Finance Minister AMA Muhith assured businessmen of giving bailout packages to recoup damages caused by the political unrest.
“Something needs to be done for you as you have faced losses,” he said at a meeting with the business people in Dhaka yesterday.
Muhith said every sector has been affected by the blockade and shutdowns with the apparel sector leading the losers.
“Due to the blockade, transportation cost has risen, which is very worrying.” finance minister said.
The businessmen urged the minister to suspend instalment of rescheduled loans, extend tenure of classified loans by six months instead of three months, extend five-year term loans to eight years and allow to pay forced loans in 24 months.
They also sought withdrawal of extra charges in port for shipment delay, reduction of insurance premium by 35% and continuation of 5% tax at source for next five years, 1% special incentive for FoB (freight on board) and 3% incentives for EU export as Euro fell sharply.
Terming the ongoing situation as a national crisis, Muhith said: “It is a big problem towards development.”
“But when will the crisis end? It’s responsibility of BNP to end it.”
He said if BNP was in parliament, it could have been easy to have talks with them. Muhith said the RMG exporters are losing orders as buyers are not coming to Bangladesh for last two months due to political instability.
He added: “Life goes on as usual, but fear remains among people.”
BGMEA President Md Atiqul Islam presented an account of losses the country’s RMG sector had faced in the political unrest since January 6.
FBCCI President Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed urged finance minister not to limit any facility to large businesses only, but to extend it to all businesses who have suffered losses in the blockade and shutdowns.
Garment manufacturers present at the meeting said the longest-ever political turmoil has tarnished the image of the country, which according to them another big problem for the sector.