Meena Bazar launches mobile shop for Gulshan-Banani

One of the largest supermarket chains of the country Meena Bazar launched its second mobile shop for customers in the capital's Gulshan-Banani zone on Tuesday.

The mobile shop will sell basic grocery items as well as fresh vegetables and fruits, says a press release.

It is serving customers near their homes at a reasonable price, without having to pay value added tax (VAT) on their purchases.

The first mobile shop was launched on April 29 in Dhanmondi.

After receiving positive response from consumers, the second was introduced in the Gulshan-Banani zone, the supermarket chain authorities said.  

The initiative is aimed at making life easier for people looking to purchase groceries near their doorsteps while the city, like the rest of the country, remains under lockdown amidst the coronavirus outbreak. 

Customers prefer the mobile shop for buying hygienic products, while maintaining social distancing guidelines.

"It is a service to the community from Meena Bazar. Considering the inconvenience of people amid the lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we launched the mobile shop to take our service to people's doorsteps so they do not need to go anywhere to buy essential commodities," Meena Bazar Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shaheen Khan has told Dhaka Tribune.

The mobile shop offers basic grocery items including puffed rice, lentils, and cooking oil. Fresh vegetables and fruits are also available at reasonable prices, Shaheen adds.

"Since it is nearer to homes and more convenient, we are getting a good response from consumers," he added.

Private service holder Jahangir Alom, a shopper at Banani (In front of Star Kabab), said "I am comfortable shopping here because of their strict enforcement of hygienic standards, product varieties and discount card facilities".

Another customer said: "The shop is hygienic and also we do not have to pay VAT."

Mesbah Uddin, a sales executive at the Meena Bazar mobile shop, said: "We have 38 items basic grocery including rice, lentils, fresh vegetables and fruits, cooking oil. We will operate from 9.30am to 5.00 pm every day."

Time and place

To cover more people in the capital's Gulshan 2 and Banani area, the mobile shop will rotate to five points daily at designated times.

The van will make its first stop at Banani Road 27 from 9:30 am to 10:30 am.  

Banani Road 17 (In front of Star Kabab Banani Road) at 11:00 am to 12:00 pm. 

Gulshan 2, Road 35 (In front of AllCC – on Gulshan Lab Aid road)  at 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm. 

Gulshan 2, Road 112 (close to Manarat school on the same road to Izumi Restaurant)  at 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm and Gulshan 2, Road 27 (close to Gloria Jeans coffee) – 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm. 

Meena Bazar is one of the country's largest retail supermarket chains, which started its journey in 2002 and operates in Dhaka and Chittagong divisions. 

Currently, the supermarket has 16 outlets.