Business activities almost came to a halt in the city yesterday due to acute transport crisis ahead of pre-announced 20-party rally.
Most industries, banks and businesses failed to operate at their optimum level because of thin presence of staff and workers, according to businessmen and traders.
Banking transaction dropped ranging from 50% to 70%, as customers could not turn out due to non-availability of transport while attendance of bank officials were also very low, according to bankers.
Some small-scale businesses, shops and ATMs (automated teller machines) kept their shutters down in fear of damage due to political violence.
The situation was even more grave than a strike day as there was hardly any transport in the city that led the commuters to look for alternative means to travel.
Political field in the country has heated up again over the controversial January 5 election last year, pushing the country into chaos and uncertainty.
“Since the business also crippled all over the city, banking transactions suffered a lot,” said Mohammad Alam, a banker.
According to a Dutch-Bangla bank official, the bank experienced sharp fall of about 70% transaction compared to the daily average transactions and attendance of bank staff was also very low due to non-availability public transport.
All bank branches located in the Motijheel area, the business hub of the country, conducted their office activities, keeping their main entrances shut. They allowed their clients through pocket gets, though there was no announcement of hartal (strike) by political parties.
“We kept the main gate closed to avoid any possible violence though there was no official notice,” said Ishtiaque Ahad, NCC Bank branch in-charge of Motijheel.
He said the average transaction of the day was just over 30% compared to the daily average transactions.
Meghna Bank Motijheel branch witnessed very thin presence of clients during the day. The branch also conducted its business activities keeping the main gate closed.
Abdul Haque, head of Motijheel branch of Meghna Bank, said: “Though we opened the main door early of the day but within a short time we closed it as all business establishments were shut in this area.”
According to a Dhaka Bank official, the bank’s transaction declined by more than 50% compared to any other normal day.
The acute transport shortage also hit hard production of factories that saw a fall of more than 40%, according to businesses.
“Production at the apparel factories particularly located at the capital fell over 40% as workers failed to attend the factory due to transport crisis,” said BGMEA Vice-President Shahidullah Azim.
He said at least 45% workers could not join their duties, hitting the production hard.
His company also failed to ferry the imported raw material. “This will also cast adverse impact on production in days to come.”
Only those workers, who resided within a walking distance from the factories, were able to attend the factory, according to Azim.
The BGMEA leader expressed his utter dissatisfaction over recurrence of political violence, saying buyers just started to place orders, but this type of political chaos will give negative signal to the world.
Former BGMEA president Anwar-ul-Alam Chowdhury said any disruption in the flow of transportation can extensively hamper the productivity of workers as well as business activities.
“The disturbance in the movement of people and goods will already pose an immediate effect on the economy,” he said.
Furthermore, small businesses were badly affected by the transport shortage.
Traders at the city’s new market shared that a few shoppers visited the market on the day as people had a hard time getting to their destinations.
Mohammad Farukh, a vendor, faced a decrease in the number of buyers on the day and it actually made a significant difference in his daily profit.
“Political unrest marked a low selling day,” he said.
