Khatunganj market getting abuzz again

CHITTAGONG, Mar 12: Business and trading in the Khatunganj-Chaktai wholesale consumer market have gained momentum as transport operators, buyers and sellers were back at work despite risks from shutdown and blockade.

Most of the traders said there was no alternative but to do business as the political stalemate entered its third consecutive month. So they cannot sit idle any more.

The trade body leaders at Khatunganj said normalcy on the Chittagong-Dhaka highway and transportation of goods through other supply lines had been restored. Goods from Benapole and Hili borders and other districts in the country's southern and northern areas were being transported safely under strict monitoring of the law enforcement agencies, they observed. "Situation in this wholesale market has returned to almost normal by now. See the long queue of trucks both from the bordering areas and port's imported goods have again made the Khatunganj area traffic-congested," said organising secretary of Khatunganj Trade and Industry Association Md Jamal Hossain.

Trucks carrying cargoes were coming to Chittagong, mainly to Khatunganj and Pahartoli wholesale markets from Iswardi, Pabna, Narayanganj, Khulna, Bagerhat, Benapole and Hili land ports while cargoes were being transported to different areas as well.

About 80 per cent of normal transaction and trading was taking place and the daily turnover at Chaktai-Khatunganj reached Tk 16 billion from 6.0 to 7.0 billion in mid-January, he said.

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