The country’s business community has demanded laws banning hartal and blockade if the current destructive politics continues. They raised the demand to ensure business-friendly environment in the country.
“We demand enacting laws against hartal and blockade if the ongoing destructive politics doesn’t end, and urge the government to restore a business-friendly environment,” said FBCCI President Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed at a human chain in Dhaka yesterday.
Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) organised human chains across the country against the ongoing political unrest. The programme was observed for 15 minutes from 12 noon.
In Dhaka, the human chain was held in front of the FBCCI Bhaban in Motijheel area. The programme began singing national anthem simultaneously throughout the country.
The participants carried banners that read: “The country’s interest is above all. Save the country, save the economy.”
The FBCCI chief urged the political parties to follow democratic and political norms to resolve the “hatred and destructive activities.”
“Our potential economy is now at stake. Considering the status of the economy which has started facing negative impacts, please, withdraw the blockade and hartal, and stop violent activities,” Kazi Akram urged the political parties.
He demanded interest waivers for the businessmen who incurred losses during the political unrest for last one month. Loan rescheduling facility has also been demanded.
According to FBCCI estimate, the country’s economy suffered financial losses of Tk75,000 crore due to the ongoing political violence. The per day economic losses amounted to Tk2,700 crore.
Readymade garment sector, the highest export earner for the country, has endured the highest loss and already incurred around Tk30,000 crore.
Retail and wholesale businesses counted Tk15,000 crore losses.
The other affected sectors are transport sector, production, tourism, agriculture and poultry, frozen food and real estate sectors.
The apex trade body said a number of 87 people including children died in arson attacks across the country since January 6 while over 200 people sustained burn injuries and were fighting for life in hospitals.
It stated as many as 1,000 vehicles came under arson attacks during the period while around 4,000 vehicles were damaged. There were 10 incidents of derailment of train bogies.
BGMEA president Atiqul Islam said the country’s business has been held hostage to the destructive politics.
He said workers are losing jobs everyday and owners are losing capital due to the deadlock.
“We want to do business in peace and ensure business-friendly environment in the country,” he adds.
FBCCI first vice president Monowara Hakim Ali, vice president M Helal Uddin, former FBCCI presidents Salman F Rahman, Yusuf Abdullah Harun, Mir Nasir Hossain, AK Azad and Annisul Huq, DCCI president Hossain Khaled and former MCCI president Rokia Afzal Rahman, among others, took part in the human chain in Dhaka.