Mini Bangladesh counts losses as tourists stay away
Times of India | 8 August 2024
Kolkata: The area around New Market, which is often referred to as Mini Bangladesh, is reeling under the impact of the turmoil in the neighbouring country with a sharp dip in the arrival of tourists. On Wednesday, only 18 Bangladeshi tourists arrived in the Free School Street-Marquis Street area in two buses. A day before, just nine reached Kolkata, most of them for treatment.
The hotels in the area are empty, shops selling SIM cards, milk and packaged water, among other things, are shutting early and restaurants have reduced the amount of food being cooked in their kitchens.
There are close to 400 hotels, lodges and guest houses in Free School Street, Marquis Street, Sudder Street, Colin Street and Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road. The traders in the area have been counting losses since the anti-quota protests erupted in Bangladesh but since Saturday, the situation has taken a turn for the worse.
“There are hardly 100 tourists staying in different hotels in the area. Most of them are here for medical treatment, so their focus is not shopping and eating out,” said Mohammed Nazim of Hotel Golden Apple on Tottee Lane.
“There are hardly any customers during lunch and dinner time. We have reduced the amount of food being cooked by almost 60%,” said Ishaque Khan, owner of Tayyab Restaurant on Collin Street.
“Shopping is the last thing on their minds. We are closely watching the developments in Bangladesh and hoping that normalcy returns and tourists start visiting Kolkata,” said the owner of an apparel store on Marquis Street.