The supply of essential commodities has fallen drastically in kitchen markets across the country for which business leaders are blaming transport crisis and liquidity shortage. The supply of most essential goods from Chattogram port fell by more than 80 percent and over 90 percent from Khatunganj, one of the biggest wholesale grocery markets in the country, following a nationwide lockdown since Thursday, they said. Less than 500 trucks, covered vans and truck-lorries are now carrying goods from the port city to different destinations everyday against 9,000-10,000 vehicles daily before the coronavirus lockdown as the drivers and their aides are refusing to run the vehicles.
Business leaders in Chattogram said that due to the shortages of vehicles, shipment of essentials from the port city to other cities, especially the capital, has been badly affected. They said that many banks are unable to make transactions in big amounts contributing to the supply disruptions. Traders said that due to the lockdown, transportation and keeping the markets open have been severely hit for which they were not prepared.
The port city has over 500 wholesale markets which are responsible for supply of daily essential commodities, especially the perishable items across the country. Any impact on supply from the markets apparently affects the entire country to great extents. In such a stalemate situation, the essential products are not coming to the wholesale markets from one place to another, while on the other hand, many essential items including vegetables and fish are rotting in remote villages due to lack of transports.
Though there are enough food stocks in the country, it seems the supply of essential goods in the market has started to decrease. On Sunday in Khatunganj and Chaktai, two of the biggest commodities wholesale markets and warehouses in Chattogram, almost all trading houses and wholesale stores were found closed. Only a few trading houses, out of nearly 5000, were seen operating.
Sagir Ahamed, general Secretary of Khatunganj Business Association, told Bangladesh Post, “Owners and staff of the business houses are not attending work due to lack of public transports in the city. Many also refused to travel in fear of being interrupted in the streets by law enforcers.”
“To keep open the wholesale markets for smooth supply of food and other essentials items, the workers of these shops should be helped so that they can regularly perform their duties,” he said. Mahabubul Alam, president of Chattogram Chamber of Commerce and Industry, suggested giving more attention to the demands of the workers of the wholesale markets in Chattogram. He said that when the wholesale markets in the port city suffer, the impact is felt in most parts of the country.
“Most banks have closed while the remaining are operating with limited amount of cash. Full banking service is required for high volume product transactions,” he added. Muhammad Omar Faruqe, secretary of Chattogram Port Authority, told Bangladesh Post, “Many private organisations like clearing and forwarding agents and shipping agents are not working due to absence of manpower.”
He said the delivery of bulk items and containers have decreased to less than 20 percent compared to last week or earlier. Generally, around 3,500-4,000 containers are transported every day, but now the number has come down 500-600, he added. "We are looking for extra space to store the containers and bulk goods. Now the storage capacity of port yards is filling up quickly. About 50,000 containers can be stored in the port yard. As of Sunday, there were about 40,000 containers,” he added.