Chittagong Bureau :The commercial transactions in Chaktai and Khatungonj , the country’s largest wholesale market of essential commodities remained stranded for the last three days following the submerged with tidal water after 12 noon each day. Traders feared losses would be to the tune of one billion.A visit to the scene on Sunday revealed streets of Chaktai, 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, wheat, flour 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 Saturday morning under the influence of full moon. The streets of Asadganj, Banshghata, Chanmia Goli, Osmainnar Goli and Post Office Goli , chal patti, drum patti got inundated by tidal water on Saturday and Sunday . Owner of Haque Trading of Khatungonj told The New Nation that despite stop of rainfall from Saturday , the entire business hub was inundated with high tidal water due high tide in sea.Met office sources said water level in the sea increases due to heavy downpour triggered by cyclone Komen , as such tidal water entered in these areas badly. A PDB sources said to avoid any erosion in the Kaptai power dam , all the slipways remained open for the last few days to release the extra water of the lake , as such Karnaphuli river is over flowing . As a result during tide hour in sea , the additional water of the Kaptai lake accompanied with tidal water entering in adjoining areas of Chittagong including the Chaktai-Khatungonj badly affected, sources said. General Secretary of Khatunganj Trade and Industries Association Syed Sagir Ahmed told that each of the 8,000 trading houses in Khatunganj and Chaktai had suffered unbearable 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. He said 200 sacks of onion were under water from 12pm to 3pm on Saturday and Sunday . 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.”
