Traders fear cumulative losses in Khatunganj flood may cross Tk 1 billion

The country’s largest wholesale market of essential commodities, Khatunganj has been submerged in water following nonstop rainfall triggered by cyclone ‘Komen’.

Traders feared losses would be to the tune of billion.
 
A visit to the scene on Saturday revealed streets of Khatunganj, Asadganj and adjoining areas were under a knee-high to waist-high water following tidal surge.
 
Water entered into many business establishments and stores of essentials.
 

The ever vibrant wholesale market has virtually become standstill as unloading from goods-laden trucks remained suspended.

Traders have been trying their best to dry the water-soaked commodities such as onion, garlic, spices, chilli, rice and dry fish.

Apart from incessant rains that have been pounding for the past seven days, the flood situation was aggravated by the surge of tidal water since Friday noon under the influence of full moon.

The streets of Asadganj, Banshghata, Chanmia Goli, Osmainnar Goli and Post Office Goli got inundated by tidal water by Saturday noon.

General Secretary of Khatunganj Trade and Industries Association Syed Sagir Ahmed told

bdnews24.com that each of the 5,000 trading houses in Khatunganj had suffered losses.

“As per the information we are getting, the losses will be over Tk 100 crores (1 billion).”

He said the affected traders would face difficulties in repaying the bank loans.

Traders suffered double losses as their shops were flooded during the weekly holiday on Friday, he said.

He claimed the loss suffered this year was more than that of 1991 cyclone.

He lamented that no government took any effective step to save the wholesale market from tidal water.

“Building sluice gate at Chaktai Khal, cleaning channels of Chaktai and dredging Karnaphuli River are essential to save Khatunganj from such high tidal flooding.”

Proprietor of SK Traders at Khatunganj, Sujan Nandi said local councillor raised the street of Khatunganj by two feet a few years ago to escape tidal water, but in vain.

Satata Banijyalaya’s owner Ratan Roy said he had to buy bricks and sand at a higher price to save onion in his store.

He said 200 sacks of onion were under water from 12pm to 3pm on Friday.

He said he had to now sell the onion at half the price.

“So far we suffered due to blockade. Now it’s the tidal water. Khantunganj has been doomed.”