Cumilla EPZ closed for 3 days amid rising flood water

The Cumilla Export Processing Zone (EPZ) authority has announced a three-day general holiday from Saturday amid rising flood water in the area.

Due to the sudden flash floods, all road communications in the EPZ area have been disrupted, the Central Effluent Treatment Plant has overflown, and water supplies to the EPZ have been affected, according to industry insiders. 

In a notice, the authorities said the holiday has been announced as workers are facing difficulty to reach their factories. 

Whether the EPZ will open after the holiday will depend on whether the flood situation improves or not, Cumilla EPZ Executive Director Abdullah Al Mahbub told The Business Standard after a meeting of investors.

Mahbub said water from some parts of the city mixes with Dakatia River through two drains in the EPZ area. "Now, the situation has reversed. Water is entering the EPZ area from the opposite side."

BEPZA Executive Director (Public Relations) Abu Syeed Md Anwar Parvez told The Business Standard, "Cumilla EPZ's maximum area is flooded by up to two feet of water and as a result, road communication has been disrupted. In some cases flood water spread to factories' ground floors."

"Workers will get their payment as per rules of general holidays payment," he said, adding that there are over 50,000 people employed in different industries in this zone.

"We are expecting the flood situation will improve during the holiday period, and operations will resume on Tuesday," he said.   

Bitopi Group Senior General Manager Sirajul Islam Azad said Baridhi Garments Limited, a factory of their group located at this zone, exports about $50 million worth of goods annually with about 3,500 manpower. 

"Due to this closure we will face at least Tk3 crore losses," he added. 

According to Bepza, 49 factories are operational and 6 are under construction. Total investment here stands at $590million till June this year. 

Bepza data shows that Cumilla EPZ factories exported $791million in FY23, while its total export is $6.27 billion since the 2001-02 fiscal year.