Abu Sufian, a director of the company that owns the chain, told bdnews24.com that their revenue has come down by about 70 per cent.
“I cannot even begin to calculate the loss we have suffered in the last seven years. We sold all our tangible and intangible assets just to keep the lights on,” he said.
Sufiyan, however, is optimistic that his fortunes will turn around once the MRT becomes operational.
“Last year though was a bit better. We are expecting that the business will recover as soon as the metro rail opens, as it is located right next to the station.
Tajul Islam Khan, owner of Optimum Electronics on Ruqaiya Sarani, did not seem as optimistic as Sufiyan.
He is under a mountain of debt.
“I owe banks at least 2 million taka, which I borrowed to survive the dry phase of the project. Even after the construction was finished, my income was not fully returned, so I pay regular loan installments. I may have to close my doors permanently soon as collectors of banks are regularly making rounds of my shop, asking to repay the loan, but I can’t Tajul said.