Fires, strikes, unrest shake business confidence

Md Istiak :

A wave of fires, labour unrest, and transport strikes has rattled Bangladesh’s business community, with entrepreneurs warning that confidence is collapsing amid mounting economic pressures.

Over the past week, a series of incidents from devastating factory fires to a massive blaze at Dhaka airport’s cargo village and strikes at Chattogram port have disrupted key economic activities and deepened anxiety across the private sector.

A week of shocks On Tuesday, a fire swept through a factory and warehouse in Mirpur, killing at least 16 workers and leaving dozens injured.

Two days later, another blaze engulfed a multi-story factory in the Chattogram Export Processing Zone (EPZ), burning for 17 hours before firefighters brought it under control.

Then on Saturday, a massive fire broke out at the cargo village of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, forcing flights to be suspended for several hours and destroying imported goods worth hundreds of crores of taka.

Adding to the turmoil, the Chittagong Port Authority’s decision to raise tariffs by 41 per cent triggered strikes by truck and prime mover drivers, paralyzing cargo movement at the country’s main seaport.

Within days, at least eight factories in Chattogram EPZ were shut down amid worker agitation, while automobile traders in Dhaka announced protests over alleged extortion and weak security.

‘The situation seems to be turning hostile for businesses’
“The situation seems to be turning hostile for businesses,” said Anwar-Ul-Alam Chowdhury (Parvez), president of the Bangladesh Chamber of Industries.

“Chattogram port has increased tariffs, and just day before yesterday, there was a fire at Dhaka airport. One wonders, are these coincidences, or is there something more?”

He warned that the airport fire could have far-reaching effects on the garment industry, affecting production timelines and buyer confidence.

Business leaders see pattern, not coincidence Mir Nasir Hossain, managing director of Mir Akhter Ltd and former president of the FBCCI, said the business environment is already weak.

“Higher interest rates are squeezing industries, and now the port’s tariff hike will increase import costs, fuel inflation, and hurt exports,” he said. “The repeated fires are not normal; they must be investigated seriously.”

Fazlee Shamim Ehsan, president of the Bangladesh Employers’ Federation, called for stronger fire safety and emergency preparedness.

Md Fazlul Hoque of Plummy Fashions termed the situation “deeply uncomfortable,” suggesting that the timing of incidents during the rainy season raised suspicions of sabotage.

Calls for calm and investigation Kamran T. Rahman, president of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), called the situation “very concerning.”

“What happened at the airport is extremely serious. Whether these are accidents or something else, it must be found out quickly,” he said.

Taskeen Ahmed, president of the DCCI, told The New Nation that continued unrest could hurt overall economic stability.

Rupali Chowdhury, former FICCI president, said persistent uncertainty could weaken consumer confidence. “When instability continues, people spend less, and businesses suffer,” she noted.