Khatunganj traders suffer Tk 1.0b loss

CHITTAGONG, Aug 1: Traders at Khatunganj have suffered financial loss to the tune of Tk 1.0 billion (Tk 100 crore) due to damage of consumer goods at the country's major wholesale market.
Shops and godowns have gone under knee-deep water at Khatunganj and Chaktai in the city as rain water coupled with high tide water, influence of cyclone and full moon poured in afresh on Friday night.
Several hundred tonnes of goods including onion, ginger, garlic, peas, dry fish, CI sheet, salt, turmeric, chili, pulses and other food items have been damaged in the water.
General Secretary of Khatunganj Trade and Industries Association Syed Sagir Ahmed said the damage of goods has been estimated at Tk 1.0 billion.
The area was severely affected by the high tide water after 7:00 pm on Friday. Roads went under water on Friday morning as well but that was not severe as the water receded by the afternoon. "By the influence of high tide in the sea the water swelled and poured in over 100 shops and godowns after 7:00 pm," he said.
The water has also increased on Saturday morning, he said adding that many shops were still under water at around 6:00 pm on the day due to influence of high tide.
The shops and warehouses on both sides of the low-lying Khatunganj Road, Chaktai Mosjid Gali, Chal Patti, Drum Patti and Rajakhali areas are affected, he said.
The water rolled down by the afternoon on Saturday as there was no rain from the morning. But the high tide water again submerged the shops in the afternoon, he said.
 Meanwhile, six persons remained missing in the deep sea area for the last two days as they left for Chittagong via Kutubdia by a fishing trawler from the outer anchorage area of Chittagong Port. They left the outer anchorage on July 29 on board a fishing trawler but there was no report of their whereabouts. A general diary has been registered with the Bandar Police Station in the city.
Four of them were identified as Farhad Abdulla, Md Alam, Md Arif and Md Sagar. They generally used to supply goods to the ships. The other two - boatmen - could not be identified, port police said.
One Saiful, friend of Farhad, told the police that they had left the outer anchorage on July 29 for Chittagong via Kutubdia. But there is no trace of them. The coast guard authority has also been informed about it, police said.
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