Mitoon Chowdhury
bdnews24.com Chittagong Correspondent
Chittagong, May 21 (bdnews24.com) — Khatunganj, the business hub of the port city of Chittagong, has a century-old history. But the wholesale market has lost its glory over the years for various reasons.
According to business leaders, the wholesale market developed centering the Karnaphuli River has lost its charm for lack of necessary infrastructure, severe congestions caused by narrow roads, pollution of the Chaktai Khal and other canals connecting it with the river.
They also blamed relocation of the headquarters of various government organisations and institutions that deal with business-related matters to Dhaka for the shabby condition of Khatunganj.
Under the circumstances, Khatunganj Industrialists and Merchants Association organised a function coinciding its centenary, aiming to revive its lost glory and thus bring back the confidence of businesspeople and customers.
They put forward a 12-point demand at the function, 'Hundred Years of Khatunganj', held at Chittagong Engineers' Institution on Saturday afternoon.
Industries minister Dilip Barua attended the function as the chief guest.
Their demands include dredging the Karnaphuli River and recovery of water routes, construction of a marine drive from Sadarghat to Kalurghat, building underpasses to ease traffic, removal of all barriers to export-import and legal steps dishonest businessmen.
Terming it the 'Wall Street' of Chittagong, association president Mahbubul Alam bemoaned that Khatunganj was losing its attraction for lack of attention of the authorities.
"Khatunganj came into being as the business hub 100 years ago based on the Karnaphuli. There was a time when small businessmen use to come here from various districts and remote areas for shopping, but their number is declining due to congestions as roads are very narrow here." he said.
He pointed out that there had been no dredging of the river in years, while the canals had become unusable due to silts.
Owner of Ira Traders Mohammed Hasan told bdnews24.com, "Traffic jam in Khatunganj is just horrible…it's never ending, you'll see it from the morning to midnight every day. You cannot expect a normal trade flow in such a situation."
Another problem is eroding business trust among the businessmen of Khatunganj due to fraudulence.
About it, Mahbubul Alam said, "Businesses run on trust. That trust has eroded because of a section of dishonest businessmen. This function is also aimed at bringing back the confidence of people on us."
Owner of Messrs Hasan and Traders Mir Mohammed Hasan said, "There are two types of businessmen in Khatunganj — those who inherited their businesses from their families and the 'floating' ones grown overnight."
He said they had lost the confidence of customers due to forgery in delivery orders (DO). "The floaters are responsible for this," he said appreciating the government for repealing the DO system.
Association general secretary Syed Sagir Hossain said they had to run to Dhaka to get a major job done, as all the important commercial banks and government institutions were in the capital.
He said, "Khatunganj will again see the thriving business if a revenue branch is set up in Chittagong and the process of tax collection is simplified."
KHATUNGANJ HISTORY
Khatun Bibi, wife of Sheikh Mohammed Hamidullah Khan, an employee of the then British ruler, had donated a land in 1875 for building few shops in the area.
It 1895, a few wholesale businessmen started their business at Lamar Bazar (now Khatunganj).
Later, Chittagong municipality had constructed a road there and renamed it Khatunganj after Khatun Bibi.
The business leaders said the market was not set up in a particular year, it developed over the years. "So, we are observing the centenary on assumption," said a businessman.
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