Drive to remove factories dents Chawkbazar business

The government's drive to remove chemical factories from Old Dhaka following the horrific fire that killed 71 people in Churirhatta on February 20, has dented business of some ancillary industries as well, such as plastic raw materials.

Proprietors of such businesses said they are facing an alarming situation after the fire incident. Besides, the government officials disconnected many houses' electricity, gas and water lines. So they could not sell their raw materials to producers whose factories have closed.

"Why cut off electricity lines and harass them in the name of drives without even fixing land for them first?" they questioned.

After visiting the surrounding areas of Haji Wahed Mansion, ground zero of the February 20 fire, many traders were seen reposing as they were not getting customers enough to keep themselves busy.

Muhammad Kamal Hossain, proprietor of Kamal Plastic Center, said there are mainly plastic businesses in the area. He also said his sales have gone down around 80 per cent after the fire incident and the government's drive.

"The government officials who are conducting the drive in the name of removing chemical warehouses, do not try to hear our voice, they come and disconnect our factories' electricity line. But there is no combustible substance factory, we only do plastic recycling. You don't need chemical for this," he also said.

Another trader said their business came down also.

Tuhin Plastic Centre's owner Tuhin Kawser and Nasir PVC Centre Manager Parvez said they could sell 20 to 50 sacks of plastic raw materials before the fire incident every day but now they can't sell even five sacks.

Parvez said the Old Dhaka is a business hub of Bangladesh, and the government should at least fix land for their relocation before the drive.

"Government officials come and tell us to shift to Keraniganj. But we cannot shift due to protests by locals there who seem to think we will pollute their environment too like here. Now where we will go?" he questioned.

Mohammad Selim, proprietor of M/S Sunan Store in Chawkbazar said that they cannot sell home accessories for lack of customers. "In the past, we could not take rest due to huge volumes of sales but now we have to wait for a customer. We expect the situation to change soon."

According to Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) sources, electricity and gas connections to 109 buildings in different parts of Old Dhaka, including Hosnidalan, Nazimuddin Road, Mali Tola, Hazaribagh, Islampur, East Islambag, and Waiz Ghat that housed chemical warehouses, were cut off till Thursday. The taskforce, formed by DSCC, is conducting the drive and it will continue till April 1.

Babul Sikder, a resident of Haji Ahsanullah House where electricity, gas and water connections were cut off several days ago, said he has been living in the house for 25 years. There was a shoe factory under the first floor of the seven-storey building, UNB reported.

"Cutting off line creates somewhat problems. But it will be solved. We are lobbying with government officials to connect the lines again. Now we have to pass time in darkness. We hope it will end soon. The factory's equipment and chemicals have been removed from our house," he also said.

Haji Sheikh Md Javed, general secretary of Bangladesh Plastic Babosayee Samity, said several hundred traders are engaged in the business. All of them are in dire straits, getting no customers.