A three-day general holiday begins on Saturday in the Cumilla Export Processing Zone (EPZ), following the announcement that floodwaters had infiltrated numerous firms within the specialised industrial zone.
Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) Executive Director (Public Relations) Abu Syeed Md Anwar Parvez told the local media, “There is around 1.5 feet of water inside Cumilla EPZ. Floodwater has spread inside the ground floor of many factories.”
“Amid the situation, Cumilla EPZ authority has announced the holiday till Monday. We are expecting the flood situation to improve during the period, and operation will hopefully resume on Tuesday,” he added.
Although the flood has yet to create severe damage in the EPZ area, industry insiders are concerned over backlogs, after they have already faced a 10-day production shutdown due to the mass uprising led by students that ousted the Awami League-led Government from power earlier this month.
They said that factories were already in a critical situation due to the ongoing global and domestic crisis, and the flood would only put them into further problems. Now there is no alternative except government support.
Feni, Cumilla, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Brahmanbaria, Chattogram, Khagrachhari, Cox’s Bazar, Moulvibazar, Habiganj and Sylhet districts have been affected by the ongoing flood since 20th August.
More than 9,44,000 families have been left stranded in the flood while 2,84,888 people and 21,695 cattle were given refuge in 3,527 shelters in the flood-hit 587 unions and municipalities under 77 upazilas of 11 districts.
In FY2022-23, 49 factories in the Cumilla EPZ exported goods valued at US $ 790 million. This location employs about 50,500 people, as to the BEPZA.
Based on BEPZA data, Cumilla EPZ has made US $ 6.27 billion from exports since FY2001–02.
