No newspapers reached in Ctg for last 2 days as floods cut off communication

Residents of Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, and the Chattogram Hill Tracts have been deprived of their daily newspapers for the past two days as flooding has disrupted transportation on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway.

According to the Chattogram Hawkers Association, around 80,000 to 100,000 copies of various national dailies typically arrive in the early morning on 7-10 buses from Dhaka, using the Dhaka-Chattogram highway.

However, due to the highway's submersion by floodwaters on the Feni-Cumilla stretch, traffic has been suspended since Thursday evening.

Daud Uddin, president of the association, told The Business Standard, "The buses departed from the capital on Thursday night. They reached Cumilla early on Friday, but had to return as traffic was suspended on the highway."

"With traffic still suspended, authorities decided not to send newspapers from Dhaka on Friday night," he added,

Daud explained that this disruption has left hawkers idle, with no newspapers to sell.

"All hawkers are sitting idle as there is no supply of newspapers. On the other hand, readers, after not receiving their papers for two days, are calling hawkers to find out what happened," he added.

Liton, general secretary of the association, said, "There are about 1,000 hawkers in the city who earn their livelihood by selling newspapers. They have had no income for two days."

"There is no other option to send the newspapers to Chattogram except by air," Liton said, urging authorities to find an alternative if the flood situation continues.