CHATTOGRAM, Nov 15: Speakers at a programme here on Sunday stressed taking effective measures immediately to stop encroachment on Chaktai canal and to dredge the waterway regularly in order to save Chaktai and Khatunganj -- the business hub of the port city.
"Chaktai-Khatunganj is a long-neglected business hub of the country. None seems to be interested about development of the biggest wholesale market of the port city. A large amount of money is lost every year due to waterlogging in the area. The concerned authority should take effective measures without further delay to save Chaktai canal from canal grabbers and dredge it regularly," they said at a view-exchange meeting styled 'Economic Impact of Waterlogging on Local Trade: The Case Study of Khatunganj, Wholesale Commodity Market, Chattogram', at the Bangabandhu Conference Hall of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) on Sunday.
Planning Commission's programme division chief Khondakar Ahsan Hossain was present as the chief guest at the event, chaired by CCCI president Mahbubul Alam.
The meeting was also attended by Planning Commission programme division joint-chief Dr Nurun Nahar, dean of the architecture faculty of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) Professor Khondakar Sabbir Ahamed, CCCI directors Ohid Seraj Swapon and Anjan Shekhor Das, chairman of the Institute of Architects, Chattogram, Najmul Latif, planner of Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) AKM Rezaul Karim, organising secretary of Khatunganj Trade Association Jamal Ahamed, NRP's consultants Dr Reaj Akter Mallik, Dr Nazrul Islam, Dr Abu Tayeb Md Shahajan and Sumaya Binte Mamun.
Mahbubul Alam said the businesses at Khatunganj lose a large amount of money in rainy season every year due to waterlogging.
"It is unfortunate that 400-year-old commercial hub Khatunganj is still suffering from waterlogging. I hope that government takes immediate steps to save the traders and the businesses at Khatunganj," he said.
Addressing the event, Mr Jamal Ahmed said, "Every year we have to suffer huge losses and we want to solve the chronic waterlogging problem. The government should put special emphasis on saving the Chaktai-Khatunganj area since it is a major commercial hub of the country."
Chaktai canal should be dredged and excavated on a regular basis, he added.
Other speakers said, the Chaktai canal has been filled up as a result of land-grabbing. "Lack of regular dredging in the canal causes water-clogging. As a result, the traders are suffering untold miseries."
Khondakar Ahsan Hossain said that the researchers researched on the impact of waterlogging at Chaktai-Khatunganj - the main commercial hub of the city.
"The programme was a primary one," he said, adding "After including the views of the stakeholders, the researchers will submit the final report within the next month."
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