পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (ত্রয়োদশ খণ্ড).pdf/৬৬৮

এই পাতাটির মুদ্রণ সংশোধন করা প্রয়োজন।

640 ংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ ত্রয়োদশ খন্ড railway and the only road connection pass close to the border at many points, have suffered heavy damage and are likely to remain subject to frequent harassment. As a result, both POL supply and the shipment of processed tea are in doubt; one further factor is that capacity for making tea chests is currently down to one-half normal with the destruction of one factory of four and the flight of management from one other. 49. Several large factories, though producing only at reduced rates, have very large stocks of finished goods on hand with no possibility of lifting them soon: Chattack Cement and Fenchugonj Fertilizer have merely exhausted their storage facilities, and soon may have to reduce production further. Eight EPIDC sugar mills have very large stocks which they can't move despite shortages and demand all over the Province Without sales. EPIDC cannot pay farmers in full for their cane and will soon be unable to meet payrolls. Until its labor scare during the week of 7th June, the steel mill in Chittagong was operating at about 20 percent of capacity, producing forever increasing stocks of raw steel, while re-rolling mills in Khulna remain closed due to non-receipt of billets from Chittagong. Pakistan Tobacco is one of the few factories operating at a respectable level in Chittagong, while the cigarette factory in Jessore reports a severe shortage of paper. And there are countless other examples of problems caused for industry by the disruption of the transport network. 50. Considering that many factories apparently have been "encouraged" to reopen irrespective of economic and financial considerations, there are two additional effects of the disturbances which have not had a great impact as yet, but are likely to assume major proportions in the near future. These arc the disruption of short-term credit facilities and the certainty that—at presently reduced levels of production, reduced productivity and restricted sales-many companies which are attempting to operate will do so only with heavy losses and even greater negative cash, flows. As a result, they will be unable to meet payrolls, taxes and debt service payments. 51. (v.) Other Sectors.-The major utilities appear to be functioning satisfactorily; however, they are not yet under any pressure to produce in large quantities due to reduced demand and have not yet been operating long enough to run into the maintenance problems which will eventually arise due to absence of key staff and inability to obtain necessary materials and spares due to the disruption of transport. The supply of power and gas was interrupted in many cases, but supply of gas now seems to have been restored fully; and, with some exceptions, present demands for power (totaling on 40 per cent of demand six months ago) are being met. Water supplies, at least in Dacca and Chittagong are functioning adequately. 52. Communications other than transport were also severely disrupted, and have not yet been fully restored. Telecommunications are reported to have been restored to all but one district and to all but 6 of 60 Subdivisions; however, service levels over these main lines—never high in the best of circumstances-are now very low, and service within districts and subdivisions remains largely disrupted. Mail service was completely disrupted and is being restored only gradually. Communication with most villages, especially in the cyclone disaster area, remains difficult.