Business hurdles mount in Khatunganj, traders demand reform

Chattogram's Khatunganj, the country's largest wholesale market for consumer goods, is facing numerous challenges, including neglected infrastructure, a lack of a business-friendly environment, and limited opportunities, according to traders.

They say little development has occurred over the past 15 years, and unfair policies and unnecessary complexities have made it difficult for honest traders to survive, leading to the bankruptcy of more than a hundred businesses. 

They also report frequent harassment by government agencies through audits and investigations, with repeated complaints often resulting in double fines, further hampering operations.

These concerns were raised yesterday at a discussion organised by the Khatunganj Trade and Industries Association, titled "Khatunganj's Crises and Challenges: Steps to Address Chattogram's Gaps as the Commercial Capital and Promote Prosperity." 

Israfil Khosru, member of BNP's International Affairs Subcommittee, was the chief guest. The session was chaired by association president Md Abdus Salam and conducted by deputy general secretary Md Rezaul Karim Azad.

Alamgir Parvez, joint general secretary of the association, said, "Chattogram has been systematically neglected. Traders from remote areas used to come to Khatunganj to buy goods, but now it seems there is a deliberate effort to hold the city back." 

He added, "Traders face discrimination due to weight control scales on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway. Trucks cannot carry more than 13 tonnes here, while other highways have no such limits. Even when claims are settled elsewhere, Chattogram's traders often go unassisted."

Md Aminur Rahman, general secretary of the association, said, "We have approached government offices many times for solutions, but nothing has been done. Prices rise due to production shortages, international market changes, or transportation costs, yet the media labels us as dishonest. We have to run our businesses under such humiliation."

Abdus Salam said, "When we try to open LCs, we are often told that everyone here is a defaulter. But even all the defaulters in Khatunganj combined would not make up 1% of Dhaka. The weight control scale has become a burden on trade. We would accept it if applied nationwide, but this discrimination is unacceptable."

Israfil Khosru said, "We want democracy in the country, and the same is needed in business. Honest traders have faced harassment. Even getting a trade license can take up to three months. Bureaucratic hurdles and high costs make running a business difficult. We want the government to create a truly business-friendly environment." 

He added, "Having profiteers does not mean all traders are bad. Honest traders deserve support. If we come to power, we will ensure those who pay taxes and follow rules get government assistance."

Khosru further said, "Although Chattogram is called the commercial capital, its infrastructure has hardly developed. The city should be recognised as the commercial capital in practice, not just in name. Our main goal is to ensure that all traders are not humiliated because of a few dishonest ones."