In the wake current destructive political violence, the country’s business community has decided to file a writ petition soon with the High Court, seeking a ban on hartal and blockade for the sake of protecting their business activities.
The decision was made at the first meeting of the Coordination Committee for Clothing Sector formed to devise ways to face the ongoing political crises on behalf of the country’s business community.
Earlier on January 14, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and Bangladesh Textile Mills Association jointly formed two committees to set next course of action to mount pressure on both the government and the political parties to end the ongoing political disturbance.
One of the committee is headed by former BGMEA president Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin while the other one by Abdus Salam Murshedy.
“We are observing the ongoing violent activities during hartals and blockades under name of political programme, which is badly hampering the country’s regular business activities,” Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, convenor of the committee, told the Dhaka Tribune after the meeting.
That is why, he said, “We’ve unanimously decided to go for legal action and to file a writ petition with the High Court, seeking ban on hartal and blockade.”
Regarding the possible date for filing the writ, Islam, however, said it would be fixed later on preferably in next week.
“Business people from all the industrial sectors are with us as it will be handled non-politically,” said Islam.
“We have to do everything for our survival and to protect our factories from becoming sick.’’
Explaining the content of the writ, BGMEA legal advisor Imtiaz Moinul Islam said, “On behalf of the business community, we will appeal to the court to declare hartal and blockade illegal. We will also appeal to the court to know who will be responsible for the financial losses suffered due to political unrest and who will compensate the losers.”
“We will sit tomorrow (today) with the members of the committee and discuss the financial issues like losses, substandard loans, problems in opening Letter of Credit (LCs) and paying loan installments,” said Exporters Association of Bangladesh (EAB) President Abdus Salam Murshedy.
After the meeting, the findings and recommendations would be informed to the Finance Minister AMA Muhith and Bangladesh Bank (BB) through a letter with a request to take immediate measures for giving a cushion to the business people, he added.
This tough move came following the ongoing political unrest that already took heavy toll on the economy disrupting production at the factory and delaying shipment of export oriented goods.
According to a FBCCI estimate, the country’s economy has suffered losses of Tk75,000 crore in 35 days, while the RMG sector suffered losses of about Tk22,000 crore.
On February 15, the High Court ordered the government to take effective steps to stop the violence that has been going on across the country in the name of blockade and hartal.
On February 8, FBCCI President Kazi Akram Uddin in human chain demanded laws banning hartal and blockade in the wake of current destructive political situation.
