The crisis at the export units of Fortuna Group, a garments and agro-fisheries complex at Kunia. Gazlpur is yet to be over.

On Wednesday, some local people forced the factoiy's closure. barricading the Dhaka-Mymenslngh highway for more than two hours, preventing its 2000 workers getting inside for work, slowing down its export schedule.

They were protesting what they said water-logging caused by closure of natural flow of water as the company went for developing its fisheries project.

However, intervention by the local administration and MP brought a temporary respite as its management agreed to suspend its fisheries project expansion to allow rain water and local sewage to pass through its ponds.

The local MP had promised to come to a settlement by Friday. But nothing happened until last night. Engr Abu Taher, MD of Fortuna Group, told The Daily Star.

Now he finds himself at a dead end. He began developing nine acres of ponds to raise lob-

sters and pangas. importing the fry from Thailand. When the fourth pond had been readied awaiting release of one batch of fry the trouble began on Wednesday. Unless the authorities take care of the natural flow of water through the drainage canals besides the highway, my problem would not be resolved, he said.

A visit to the area yesterday showed that unplanned growth of industries and expansion of highway had interrupted the flow of water through the drainage besides the road.

In future the problem would remain until authorities clear the canals, install sewer pipes to facilitate rain water passing onto the nearby main canal which flows to the local river.

Meanwhile. Mostafa Ghulam Kuddus. president of Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association, has urged the Inspector-General of Police to take immediate steps against the unruly people who created trouble last week and facilitate smooth functioning of the Fortuna Group's units.