Despite special police protection only 30 per cent export goods have been carried from Dhaka to Chittagong port for shipment as most exporters showed little interest to send their products in fear of arson attacks on the highway during the 131-hour blockade. Exporters, mainly garment manufacturers, said they were not fully confident on the law enforcement agencies as the situation of Sitakunda area on Dhaka-Chittagong highway was not under control.
They thought that the administration could not restore order at Sitakunda point and there was a huge risk to carry their goods through the Sitakunda point on the highway.
A good number of garment exporters have already urged their buyers to extend lead time explaining the ongoing violent situation, exporters said.
Recently, the government offered to provide special police protection to vehicles carrying export and import goods on Dhaka-Chittagong highway during nonstop hartals and blockades.
According to the decision, vehicles started their journey with police escorts to Chittagong in last five days.
Similarly, the vehicles were given escorts on their return journey from Chittagong to Dhaka.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association officials said that after the government decision to provide special police protection to vehicles on Dhaka-Chittagong highway during hartal and blockade the movement of export goods laden vehicles increased, but not much.
The BGMEA sources said that in last five days a total of 1,550 covered vans have reached Chattagong with police escorts whereas on an average 1,000 garment products laden transports go to Chittagong port on any normal day.
On Wednesday night, a total of 350 covered vans left Dhaka for Chittagong with police escorts in two phases from the east side of Kanchpur Bridge, the sources added.
The government has taken a good initiative to protect the export-import business and the decision would be very helpful, especially for the garment sector, as it is a time-bound business, BGMEA vice-president Shahidullah Azim told New Age on Thursday.
‘But police protection would never ensure smooth business under the circumstances as miscreants terrorize 53km stretch of the highway in Sitakunda upazila,’ he said.
Some factory owners have contacted with their buyers and urged them to extend lead time as they did not want to run the risk of arson attacks on the highway, Shahidullah said.
He said that about 25 per cent of total consignments have been carried during the blockade days while the rest of the consignment would be delayed.
Obviously, exporters have to face cancellation of orders, discount and air fright unless normalcy returns in the country, he said.
-With New Age input
