A spate of fires, labour unrest, and strikes at Chattogram Port has shaken business confidence across Bangladesh, leaving entrepreneurs anxious about what may come next.
Business leaders warn that these repeated disruptions—occurring amid high inflation and political uncertainty—are deepening economic instability and undermining investor confidence.
“The situation seems to be turning hostile for businesses,” said Anwar-Ul-Alam Chowdhury (Parvez), president of the Bangladesh Chamber of Industries.
Last week, a fire swept through a factory and warehouse in Dhaka’s Mirpur area, killing at least 16 workers. Two days later, another blaze engulfed a multi-storey factory in the Chattogram Export Processing Zone (EPZ), where firefighters battled flames for 17 hours.
On Saturday, a massive fire broke out at the cargo village of Dhaka airport, disrupting operations and damaging stored export materials. As of 8:30 pm, firefighters were still working to extinguish the flames.
Adding to the turmoil, a 41 percent tariff hike at Chattogram Port sparked strikes by truck and prime mover drivers, paralyzing cargo movement. On Thursday, labour protests forced the shutdown of eight factories in the Chattogram EPZ, while automobile traders announced demonstrations over alleged extortion and lax security.
“Port tariffs are up, and now there’s a fire at the airport—one incident after another. Are these coincidences, or something more?” Parvez asked.
“When fires occur in supposedly secure areas like EPZs or airports, it raises serious questions about safety and preparedness.”
He warned that persistent disruptions could inflict lasting damage on business sentiment. “These incidents send a negative message to both domestic and foreign investors,” he said.
Mir Nasir Hossain, managing director of Mir Akhter Ltd and former president of the FBCCI, said the business climate was already fragile. “Factories are running below capacity, loan servicing is getting harder due to high interest rates, and the sudden tariff hike will increase import costs and inflation while reducing export competitiveness.”
He urged the government to investigate the fires seriously. “We need to know whether these are accidents or something more deliberate. Firefighting capacities in both public and private sectors must be strengthened.”
Fazlee Shamim Ehsan, president of the Bangladesh Employers Federation, described the situation as deeply troubling. “We are worried. Many of us are at a loss,” he said.
Md Fazlul Hoque, managing director of Plummy Fashions, called the developments “unusual and unsettling.”
“I cannot recall such an incident at an airport in Bangladesh before. The timing, during the rainy season, makes it even more suspicious—it’s worth investigating,” he added.
Kamran T. Rahman, president of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), termed the recent fires “very concerning.” He said the abrupt 40 percent port tariff hike “should have been implemented gradually to protect competitiveness.”
Taskeen Ahmed, president of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), said the combination of fires, strikes, and tariff hikes is eroding business confidence and threatening overall economic stability.
Rupali Chowdhury, former president of the Foreign Investors’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), echoed similar concerns.
“Persistent uncertainty is unhealthy for the economy. If this continues until the next election, it could dampen consumer spending, slow money circulation, and worsen the economic slowdown,” she warned.
As business leaders call for swift investigation and preventive measures, the growing sense of unease reflects a broader anxiety over Bangladesh’s economic resilience in the face of mounting disruptions.
