Check-in boost for hotels, traders in Mini Bangladesh
Times of India | 22 July 2024
Kolkata: With Bangladeshi tourists trickling into hotels and lodges in the Free School Street-Marquis Street-Mirza Ghalib Street-Collin Street zone on Sunday, traders in the Mini Bangladesh belt are hopeful of business accelerating again. Once teeming with tourists visiting for medical treatments and shopping, travel agencies and currency exchange points had, for the past few days, become spots for Bangladeshi nationals looking for ways to return home.
Mohammad Azad, manager of Hotel Anwar International on Marquis Street, said the number of people coming to Kolkata from Bangladesh has reduced after the situation in Dhaka unfolded. The number of check-ins decreased drastically — he said only four Bangladeshis checked into his hotel on Sunday. Azad hopes the situation will normalize from Monday.
Many hotels reported 25% che-ck-outs on Sunday with few checking in. But they are looking forward to things turning better soon.
Reacting to the Bangladeshi SC’s order, president of Central Kolkata Hotel Owners’ Association Harmit Singh said, “It seems to be good news but we are still waiting. We are not sure about the proceedings at the border.”
Several tourists said they were gradually running out of money since they had to extend their stay in Kolkata. “I left Dhaka on July 14, when the situation was normal, and carried enough money for travel and shopping. I was scheduled to leave on Friday but the bus got cancelled. By then, I had spent most of the money. Now I am left with very little to pay for the hotel,” said Apu Dhar from Chittagong.
Shajjad Hussain from Dhan Mandi in Dhaka bought medicines worth Rs 6,000 on Thursday. “My train got cancelled and I might have to stay for a few days. But I don’t have enough money for the hotel. I went to the medical store requesting them to take back the medicines and return the money but they declined. Since net connectivity is suspended, I can’t even ask someone to send me money online. I might have to borrow it from someone now,” said Hussain.
The hotel owners were considerate and, in many cases, gave discounts for the extended stays. “If guests ran out of money, we helped them out. Most of them are regulars and we have a good rapport with them,” Singh said.