Kolkata: The blaze that killed nine persons at a hotel on Free School Street last month has dealt a big blow to businesses in and around the area often referred to as mini Bangladesh. Traders reported a sharp fall in Bangladeshi customers after hotels, lodges and guest houses were closed following safety inspections.The fallout has extended beyond the hospitality sector. Traders say restaurants, forex dealers, transport operators and retail shops have also lost business as visitors who once stayed in the area are now either finding accommodation elsewhere or cutting their trips short.Hyder Ali Khan, general secretary of the Free School Street Traders’ Association, said the downturn had come just as businesses were beginning to recover from the prolonged disruption caused by the pandemic and political turmoil in Bangladesh.“The losses since Aug 19, when the tragedy occurred, have been of around several crores. We were recovering from the impact of the political situation in Bangladesh when the fire happened and the hotels and lodges were shut down, dealing a big blow to business. Since most hotels and lodges are shut, tourists are going to different areas. The other businesses in this pocket, like restaurants, transport, forex dealers and retailers, also depend on tourists and are losing business,” said Khan.For hotel owners, the uncertainty is adding to mounting financial pressure. The immediate concern is how quickly hotels can meet safety requirements and reopen, and whether customers will return once they do.“We have been approaching the KMC and the fire department regularly, but there is a status quo. There is no attempt to end the impasse. We have already bled enough financially. If the issue is not resolved, thousands of people will lose their livelihoods for good,” said the owner of a hotel on Mirza Ghalib Street that was shut after the fire.Monotosh Kumar Saha, president of the Free School Street Traders’ Association and operator of Shohagh Paribahan bus services between Bengal and Bangladesh, said the consequences extended to thousands of families dependent on the local economy.“The economy of the area is important as it supports thousands of families. After the Aug 19 fire, business has nosedived,” said Saha.
