Dhaka-Chattogram Highway remained closed for last one week due to severe floods in Chattogram region, which affected imports and exports.
At the same time Dhaka-Chattogram train movement has also stopped.
Goods cannot be shipped to Chattogram Port for export.
At the same time, the imported raw materials could not be taken to factories. This has created a new crisis in the clothing sector. This crisis is considered by the stakeholders as a blow to the readymade garment industry.
Khandokar Rafiqul Islam, President of BGMEA, said that the garment sector is facing one crisis after another. Imports and exports stopped due to the movement of the students.
Now garment factories are operational but the products are not reaching the port due to fresh floods.
If this situation continues, it will be difficult to retain customers, he said.
He said, now the big challenge is to export the products, stocks of which are piling up at factories.
The sector stakeholders say that many factories have stockpiles of products.
On the other hand, the imported raw materials cannot be brought to factories.
Those concerned say that in July and August, the country came to a standstill.
Concerned parties requested the government to inform the buyers about the problem.
Sources said that when the floods aggravated train services across the country were stopped since last Thursday. However, since Sunday, the movement of some cargo vehicles resumed on the Dhaka- Chattogram Highway. Heavy rains inundated major transport routes, including the Dhaka- Chattogram Highway and the railway from Feni to Comilla, due to which Chattogram was completely isolated.
Mohiuddin Rubel, director of BGMEA, said that it has become difficult to explain the problem to the buyers. A few days ago there was a crisis in the country. Now again due to floods no export is possible.
He fears that it will have a long-term negative impact.
BGMEA director Ashikur Rahman Tuhin said, "If this situation continues for two more days, we are thinking about exporting products through Pangaon Port. We have already spoken to the shipper association, they said they can bring the ship there. We have spoken to the in-charge of the port and they agreed, saying they have the capacity.
Traders say that from last July, the movement and floods hampered the exports thrice. If the floods prolong, the entrepreneurs of the ready-made garment industry will face a new crisis. Besides, traders said that they have to pay extra fares for sending goods by air instead of by ship.
BKMEA president Mohammad Hatem said, "Daily exports were worth $160 million. Now if we cannot ship these goods on time through ship, then it appears that we have to ship the goods by air. Air shipment will cost us $80 million."
According to the Private Container Depot Association, the arrival of export goods in covered vans at 19 depots in Chattogram dropped by 35 per cent per day.
