The FBCCI is planning to launch an anti-hartal campaign soon to protest the financial fallout caused by the countrywide shutdowns.
The board members of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) have already discussed about holding meetings with top political leaders on this regard.
Talking to the Dhaka Tribune yesterday, FBCCI Vice-President Md Helal Uddin said: “We will start campaigning against political hartals across the country from next week.”
In a press release on Monday, the FBCCI – the country’s apex trade body – expressed deep concerns over the damages dealt to the country’s economy by the recent rounds of nationwide hartal enforced by the Jamaat-e-lslami.
Last December, the FBCCI also hoisted white flags in a programme protesting the political deadlock that saw businesses come to a near standstill ahead of the general election.
In 2013, the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry conducted a sector-wise survey to estimate the extent of losses caused by hartals. The survey found that a single day of hartal caused losses of around Tk1,600 crore.
At this rate, the country lost around 8% of its GDP during the 52 hartals that were staged during the 2013-14 fiscal year.
The Bangladesh Shop Owners Association also said all shops in the country have a total daily transaction of around Tk3,000 crore, while on a hartal day the shops lose around Tk400 crore.
The BGMEA has also repeatedly voiced protests against hartals, claiming that the shutdowns disrupted timely shipment of goods and caused buyers to turn away from investment in the country.
According to Bangladesh Bus and Truck Owners Association, owners face a daily loss of Tk300 crore on hartal days.
According to a 2001 World Bank estimate, hartals led to a loss of $10bn from 1995 to 1999.
