The handloom industry in Sirajganj district has received a shattering blow due to the ongoing countrywide non-stop transport blockade and repeated hartals sponsored by the BNP-led 20-party alliance.
The weavers of the district are counting heavy losses as their crores of taka worth of clothes, including saris, lungis and gamchhas (bathing cotton towels), have remained unsold for almost one month.Wholesalers from outside the district, including capital Dhaka, come in far less numbers than normal to buy clothes for unavailability of transport.During a recent visit to Shahzadpur, Ullapara, Enayetpur and Belkuchi upazilas of the district which has a wide reputation for producing handloom items, this correspondent found that the owners of the wholesale shops were passing idle time with huge clothes on display for want of buyers.While talking with some local traders named Hazrat Ali, Abdur Rauf and Wares Ali, they said due to the political deadlock, they could sell their clothes and failed to pay salaries of the workers.The political unrest has also forced some handloom operators to wind up their business.Ramjan Ali, president of Shahjadpur Yarn Merchants’ Association, said the cotton and yarn traders have suffered loss amounting to crores of taka due to the blockade and hartal programmes.Besides, yarn worth Tk25/30 crores has also got damaged in the meantime, he said.
The handloom operators and yarn traders are getting depressed day by day over repayment of huge loan taken from diffident banks and NGOs.Failing to repay the loan, a few of them are staying away from their houses.Market sources blaming the lack of transport for the situation said wholesalers from outside cannot send their consignments as vehicle operators refuse to carry those in fear of vandalism by blockaders and hartal supporters. -UNB, Sirajganj
