Violent political protests instigated by the BNP-led alliance in the last couple of months have caused financial losses of over Tk7,150 crore to private factories set up in industrial parks under the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (Bscic), Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu told the parliament yesterday.
In reply to a question from Awami League Lawmaker Israfil Alam, the minister said the “political violence” of the BNP-Jamaat alliance had impeded imports, shipments and the release of goods. The marketing of products was also hampered, he said.
Production, marketing and shipments of products in the 4,254 privately-owned small and medium industries at the government’s Bscic industrial estates across the country were disrupted by the “political violence” and the losses incurred stood at Tk7,150 crore and 25 lakh, said Amu.
The state-owned Bangladesh Steel and Engineering Corporation had also faced huge losses, he said. The minister said the government was considering punishing the perpetrators and providing compensation to the affected people.
Amu alleged that the agitation programmes by the then 18-party opposition alliance were aimed at hindering the trials of the war criminals.
