Businesses and trades in Chittagong have incurred an estimated loss of about Tk17,000 crore at the beginning of this year due to opposition-sponsored blockade and shutdowns.
Speakers at a view-exchange meeting yesterday urged the authorities of Chittagong Port, Chittagong Customs House and other business organisations to run their activities during weekly holidays to minimise their losses.
They also reached a consensus on working together so that the country’s economic activities would not be disrupted during shutdowns and blockades.
Police high officials at the meeting vowed that police, RAB and BGB would take stern action against people involved in sabotage.
The meeting was held at the conference room of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) in the morning with CCCI President Md Mahbubul Alam in the chair.
Chittagong Range Deputy Inspector General Shafiqul Islam said they were forming committees comprising public representatives and administration officials in their respective areas to make lists of miscreants who carry out violence on highways.
“We are providing police escort to long-distance and goods-laden vehicles on the highways,” he said adding that they were conducting drives to arrest miscreants.
Chittagong District Deputy Commissioner Mezbah Uddin said street people and children are being used for sabotage in exchange for money while the key players are hiding behind the screen.
“Movement cannot be waged this way,” he said adding that violence in the name of movement caused huge economic loss for the country.
The CCCI president said about Tk150 crore loss was counted in SME sector, Tk100 crore in production sector, Tk68 crore in transport sector and Tk695 crore in export business due to the blockade and hartal in 2015 apart from other sectors.
“Products transportation cost has gone up three to four times due to blockade. The export orders are being suspended as non-stop blockade programme delays the shipment resulting in huge loss in our GDP,” he said.
The economy of the country would face a long-term crisis if the present situation continues.
Bangladesh Garments Manufactures and Exporters Association (BGMEA) First Vice-President Nasir Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury said export-oriented ready-made garment sector is suffering the most because of political unrest.
“And this industry will have to face severe crisis in future for the negative feedback from foreigners.
Chittagong Metropolitan Police Commissioner Abdul Jalil Mandal said they would hunt down every single saboteur.
Chittagong Superintendent of Police AKM Hafiz Akhter said what is going on in the name of blockade is nothing but sabotage.
Apart from the speakers, businessmen and officials of the CCCI, BGMEA and government bodies were present in the meeting.
