Garment exporters bear brunt; vegetable growers outside capital suffer huge losses
Businesses incurred massive losses following the two-day countrywide transport strike that almost stalled the mobility of workers and goods.
“The most affected sector is the garments one as production in the factories was halted because the workers could not join their workplaces timely,” said Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI).
Apart from that, the transportation of exportable goods from Dhaka to Chattogram port was also affected as not a single truck was allowed to carry goods over the last two days.
Some 12,000 to 15,000 goods-laden trucks or covered vans ply between Dhaka and Chattogram port every day, according to industry insiders. Of those, 80 percent are engaged in carrying either export or imported textile and apparel items, they said.
GROWERS FEEL THE CRUNCH
Vegetable growers in Mahasthangarh Bazar in Bogura suffered an estimated loss of Tk 4 crore in the last two days due to the work stoppage by transport workers, while wholesalers had also stopped procuring any goods from them.
The prices were three times lower in the Bazar, which is the largest wholesale vegetable-market in northern Bangladesh.
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