Trade suffers in waterlogged biz hubs in Ctg

CHATTOGRAM, Aug 22: Wholesale traders and importers of essentials in commodity hubs Khatunganj and Chaktai suffered heavy losses as their stocks got damaged due to waterlogging.
The port city's business pivots went under water following heavy rain for the past several days.
Sources said heavy downpour has disrupted the normal life in Chattogram for a week now.
Meanwhile, low-lying areas in the city have gone under knee-deep water following torrential rain for several hours on Saturday, leaving the inhabitants stranded.
According to the local meteorological department, 98.8 mm of rainfall was recorded in the past 24 hours ending at 12 noon.
It also recorded 185.08 mm rainfall from August 15 to 21. The Met office advised to hoist cautionary signal number 03 for Chattogram seaport.
Meanwhile, Khatunganj, Chaktai and neighbouring Kurbaniganj and Rajakhali on either side of the Chaktai canal are under knee-deep to waist-deep water.
Sources said water congestion damaged large quantities of perishable commodities like onion, garlic, rice, lentil, sugar, tea and spices as water flooded into shops and warehouses at wholesale markets.
Floodwaters forced traders to raise the height of doors of shops and warehouses in an effort to prevent water from coming in. Still, water managed to seep in through the walls.
Talking to the FE, some traders of the century-old Khatunganj commodity hub said things turned worse as solid waste and filth choked up the canal.
Every year, rainwater from the Karnaphuli floods shops and warehouses in the area through Chaktai Canal, which is the key rainwater drainage system alongside other sewage outlets, they added.
Sources said Khatunganj and Chaktai house an estimated 4,000 businesses and more than 6,000 warehouses.
According to Khatunganj Trade and Industries Association, the daily turnover in the wholesale market stands at Tk 1,500-2,000 crore. The traders said they had to incur huge losses due to the chronic waterlogging problem.
Chattogram Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Mahabubul Alam said, "Waterlogging has increased this year due to non-stop rain as well as high tide in the Karnaphuli."
An under-construction sluice gate also causes inundation at the commercial hubs, he added. Mr Alam said dredging in the Karnaphuli has remained stopped for the past two years. So, water easily entered and damaged stored goods at warehouses.
He called upon the government to take immediate action to solve the waterlogging crisis at Khatunganj and Chaktai and also other parts of Chattogram.
Syed Sagir Ahmad, general secretary of the Khatunganj traders' body, said traders are yet to calculate losses as they were too busy protecting commodities.
[email protected]