Bangladesh Flood Disrupts Key Trade Routes and Hampers Export-Import Activities

23 Aug Bangladesh Flood Disrupts Key Trade Routes and Hampers Export-Import Activities

The ongoing flood across 11 districts in Bangladesh has severely impacted nearly 4.5 million people, claiming at least 13 lives so far, and disrupting crucial export-import activities.

Continuous rainfall, both locally and from the Indian state of Tripura, has inundated large sections of the Dhaka-Chittagong highway, a critical cargo route. This has led to significant delays, diversions, and obstructions for export-laden trucks heading to Chittagong, the country’s primary seaport. In some areas, the highway is submerged in waist-deep water, causing traffic jams that stretch up to 40 kilometers.

Truck driver Masud Rana reported being stuck in congestion after traveling just 100 kilometers from Chittagong, despite leaving the previous afternoon.

According to Ruhul Amin Sikder, Secretary General of the Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association, Chittagong’s inland depots received only 2,100 export cargo trucks in the past 24 hours, a reduction of 1,000 trucks compared to the previous day. Typically, around 3,500 trucks are received daily. Furthermore, only 630 trucks carrying imported goods departed the depots, compared to the usual 900.

The Meteorological Office warns that the heavy rainfall is expected to continue for at least the next three days, exacerbating the situation.