Four major business organizations have jointly appealed to the Shipping Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam for urgent assistance following heavy rainfall and flash floods that disrupted operations at Chattogram port. In a letter sent on Sunday, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), and the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) requested immediate measures to restore port and transport connectivity and to compensate affected industries.

The letter stated that flooding has hampered unloading, storage, and transport of goods, putting imported raw materials and export-ready products at risk of damage and shipment delays. The port authority’s earlier notice rejecting compensation claims has caused dissatisfaction among traders. The organizations demanded a neutral investigation to determine responsibility for losses and called for waivers on demurrage, detention, and storage charges. They also sought low-interest refinancing, extended loan repayment periods, and special fast-track customs clearance for essential goods.

The groups outlined nine specific demands, urging swift implementation to protect industrial output, maintain export commitments, and restore business confidence in the country’s main seaport.