This is a hard time for all sorts of business, and this is for the current political chaos. The business of construction materials, which is otherwise vibrant during this time, have also been affected badly.
Due to blockades, sales have slumped by around 80%, which has caused drop in production too, said the traders and manufacturers.
As materials cannot be supplied to the construction sites, the building of infrastructures and houses has become almost stalled.
Both public and private constructions have stopped.
According to the manufacturers, the current situation has resulted in production fall because of two-fold problems – drop of demand and disruption in the supply of raw materials.
“We are held hostage by the political parties. They are making us bankrupt,” said Md Ali, senior vice president of Bangladesh Re-Rolling Mills Association.
“Most factories see nearly 80% slump in production as they are unable to bring raw materials. Sales also fell by 75%,” he added.
Md Ali is the chairman of Fatullah Steel Re-Rolling Mills Ltd in Dhaka.
Construction materials chiefly include cement, bricks, rod, tiles etc.
“Demand of cement has slumped by around half the usual demand,” said Shahidur Rahman, general manager (sales and marketing) of MI Cement Ltd.
“We usually sell 75,000 bags of cement per day, but the demand has now decreased to 35,000 bags,” according to the MI cement official.
Akij Cement’s senior manager Payer Ahmed Tusher reported 70% drop in sales during this dry season compared to same period last year.
“Sales are down by 70% compared to the same period last despite having demands as consumers do not want to transport during blockades, taking the risk of damages,” said
A director of Anwar Group which manufactures rod revealed a sharp fall of rod sales from the company’s production.
“While the sale was 300 tonne a month, now it is 60-70 tonne,” said Anwar Group director.
“We cannot supply our products and also cannot bring raw materials to factories because of continuous blockades.”
A visit to the city outlets of construction materials, the sales people were seen sitting idle with no customers’ presence.
“This season (winter) is a peak time for our business. We are passing the hardest moment now. Political unrest is killing our business,” said Abdul Mannan, owner of Dhaka’s Rana Enterprise which supplies construction materials.
“Construction materials business is on the brink of collapse. Only an end to political unrest only could save it,” a sales executive of RAK Ceramics expressed his fear while talking to the Dhaka Tribune early this week as fresh spell of blockades began to hit the country with no hopes offered by the parties.