Traders demand action against monsoon waterlogging

The Khatunganj-Chaktai market, one of Bangladesh's largest wholesale hubs for household essentials, is losing its position as the country's top trade centre owing to seasonal waterlogging, lack of proper infrastructure management, corruption and poor road connectivity, among other barriers, experts say.

Businesses have underscored the need to conduct a thorough study on the economic impact of waterlogging and other difficulties faced in the area.

The study will help formulate effective solutions for a comprehensive project in the future that will aim to return the trade centre to its former glory, they said.

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They spoke at an inception workshop styled "Private Sector Resilience Study" at the Bangabandhu Conference Hall of the World Trade Centre in Chattogram yesterday.

The event was organised by the National Resilience Programme (NRP) and the Programme Division of the Planning Commission in association with the CCCI and attended by several business leaders and senior officials from various government organisations.

During the workshop, the Planning Commission announced that it would conduct two separate studies on the economic impact of waterlogging on local trade -- A Study on Khatunganj, Chattogram and an Industrial Sector Risk Profile for Chattogram -- with assistance from the NRP and technical partner United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Planning Division Secretary Md Nurul Amin stressed the need to formulate risk management plans ahead of the launch of any project to ensure sustainable development.

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