Thousands of restaurant workers jobless countrywide amid lockdown

Dhaka : As the government rolled out countrywide lockdown, many restaurants in popular hotspots like Dhaka and Cox's Bazar had to shut down leaving thousands of workers jobless amid the pandemic. Meeting the expenses of their families have become a great challenge for them now. 
An anonymous worker, from Patuakhali district, used to work at the Bhojonghar restaurant at Gulshan in the capital. He lived at a rented house with his wife, two daughters and a son at Badda. Due to the lockdown, his employer shut down the restaurant leaving him and his colleagues with no livelihood. He suffered the same hurtful experience in the previous lockdown phase in the first wave of coronavirus last year. That is why he had to leave Dhaka afterwards looking for work. 
This has become a regular phenomenon now among the restaurant workers countrywide. They are losing jobs due to the lockdown and then going to other cities for survival. However, now that public transport in and out of the cities are halted, these workers are not able to find a way to get out of their stressful situations. 
Another restaurant official seeking anonymity was a former manager of a restaurant named Baishakhi in Cox's Bazar. He also has a similar tale to tell. He too lost his livelihood following the lockdown. Now looking no other way, he still keeps visiting his former workplace looking for a chance to get back. Meeting the needs of his family has become such a burden for him now. 
These workers are representing thousands of more workers of hotels and restaurants countrywide who are worrying about the difficult time ahead as earning bread and butter for their families have become almost next to impossible. 
The coronavirus related restrictions including the lockdown prevent the dine-in arrangement at hotels and restaurants. We can only enjoy takeaways and home deliveries now. 
These restrictions have led to shutdown of 80 per cent of Dhaka city-based restaurants, said Khandaker Ruhul Amin, Chief Adviser to Bangladesh Restaurant Owners Association.
About 250,000 staff members work at around 8,000 hotels and restaurants in Dhaka, Khanda-ker Ruhul Amin informed.
According to Cox's Bazar Motel Guesthouse Officers Association, around 30,000 people would work in 700 boarding-guest houses and restaurants in the district. As the lockdown was enforced, at least 15,000 employees of the hospitality services were furloughed with immediate effect.
The association's general secretary Karim Ullah said, "Despite several attempts, the furloughed workers have not yet received their salary for April."
Economist MM Akash said, "The hotel business is among the most affected sectors by the coronavirus infection. The government should have considered this earlier. This sector requires special emergency support. The government has announced emergency aid for the rural poor, leaving the urban ones out of the safety net."