Nilkhet photocopiers sit idle as students stay home

When a sector gets affected, it is quite natural that those sectors dependent on it will also automatically suffer the aftereffects.

This is exactly what happened to photocopying shops in the capital’s Nilkhet area. Since educational institutions and coaching centres have been kept shut to contain the spread of coronavirus since March of this year, the business of printing and photocopying has suffered a blow.

In addition, many offices have shifted from physical to virtual spaces amid the pandemic, hitting the shops even harder.

Even after reopening of the governmental and non-governmental organisations in September, traders associated with this business remain frustrated in the absence of commercial activities like the pre-pandemic time.

Talking to Business Insider, photocopying proprietors said their business had decreased by around 75% compared to the pre-pandemic period.

SM Motiuzzaman Moti, a photocopying shop owner in Azimpur Chapra Masjid area of the capital, told Business Insider, “Our business has been doomed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

“You won’t believe what a bad time we are passing through,” he vented his frustration.

“I had four employees at my shop [before pandemic]; now I’m the only person working here. All the savings have gone for paying the shop rent. I’m just living from hand to mouth,” added a frustrated Motiuzzaman.

At one point of the conversation, Motiuzzaman opened his cash box to show that he had only Tk25 inside the locker —his total earnings till 1pm on Saturday.

Aminur Rahman, owner of Barishal Photostat and Stationery shop at Gausul Azam market, explained the similar situation.

“Students were our customers. They used to xerox books, notes, and other reading materials,” he said.

“Since academic activities have been shut across the country due to the coronavirus outbreak, our business has suffered the most.

“I used to earn Tk2,000-8,000 per day by photocopying – now I hardly manage to get Tk500-700,” he said, adding that many photocopying machine owners had sold their shops and left Nilkhet and Gausia market due to the pandemic.

Projapati Printers and Photocopy shop owner Kamruzzaman Niloy, however, told Business Insider that if educational institutions are opened and academic activities resume, they will be able to recover the losses.

“My business fell down to 25%. I’ve applied for the bank loans, but uncertainty grips me…don’t know what awaits me,” added a worried Kamruzzaman.