Troubled banking sector has a negative impact on car sales at Mongla port.
Md Fakhrul Islam, an Official at the Port’s Traffic Department, said car import during the Jan-May period was doubled but many of them are lying at the port as the importers are reluctant to release them.
Car importers association spokesperson Mahbubul Haque Chowdhury told the Bangla Tribune that car sales have slumped due to liquidity crisis in the banking sector.
He said, the banking sector always offers car loans, but this time there is a credit squeeze which put a brake on the sales.
“We had some plans centering around budget and Eid festival but there are few customers in the market. We are really frustrated,” he said.
Mongla Port Authority Chairman Commodore Faruque Hasan told the Bangla Tribune that they are trying to provide the best service to the car importers so that they can reduce the loss.
He said, a car importer named, Haq’s Bay, first imported car in 2009 through this port and with better service the port able to attract importers to do business here.
According to the port statistics, in Jan 2055, Feb 1691, Mar 1354, Apr 1126 and in May 1166 vehicles including Toyota Corolla, Toyota X Corolla, Toyota Alion, Prado, F Premio, Noah, Haice, Probox and Nissan were released from the port.
On Jun 7, a total of 5179 cars are stashed in the port.