Meena Bazar launches mobile shop

Meena Bazar, one of the country's largest supermarket chains, has launched a mobile shop in the capital.  It will serve customers near their homes at reasonable prices, without having to pay value added tax (VAT) on their purchases.

The mobile shop, selling basic grocery items as well as fresh vegetables and fruits, was launched on Wednesday, initially covering parts of Dhanmondi at specific times.

The supermarket chain authorities said the second mobile shop would be launched this week for customers in Gulshan and Banani of Dhaka.

The initiative is aimed at making life easier for people to purchase groceries at their doorsteps while the  city, like the rest of the country, endures the coronavirus shutdown.

“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 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 told Dhaka Tribune.

Meena Bazar's mobile shop concept is aimed at making life easier for people to purchase groceries at their doorsteps Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

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

"Since it is near home and more convenient, we have had a good response from consumers," he added.

Time and Place

To cover more people in the capital's Dhanmondi area, the mobile shop will  rotate daily to six points at designated times.

The van will make its first stop at Abahani playground   on Satmasjid Road from 10:00am-11:00am, at Rabindra Sarabar between 11:00am-12 noon, Kalabagan bus stand (in front of Alta Plaza shopping mall) from 12 noon-1:00pm, Central Road near Ideal College from 1:00pm-2:00pm, Dhanmondi road number 1 from 2:00pm-3:00pm, and Dhanmondi road number 4, between 3:00pm-4:00pm.

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

Currently, the supermarket has 16 outlets.

Meena Bazar outlets have almost 8,000-10,000 products for sale and provide a convenient shopping experience, easy parking, and friendly customer service for their customers.