The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry on
Wednesday said that the two major political parties would have to take
liability of catastrophic damages of economy and loss of life during
frequent non-stop blockades and hartals.
FBCCI, the country’s apex trade body, blamed the two major
parties—ruling Awami League and opposition BNP—for prolonging the
political crisis centering the next general election, saying that the
crisis could be avoided if they would have sit for dialogue following
the request made by the business community.
‘They did not pay attention to our request which we made two months
earlier for sitting for a dialogue to resolve the crisis politically and
peacefully,’ said FBCCI president Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed.
The overall economy, particularly readymade garment sector,
communication infrastructure, trade and businesses would not be
destroyed and lives of many people could be saved if they would have
listened to request of the business community, he said.
‘So the two parties will have to take liability of recent violence, damages of resources and loss of life,’ he said.
He said that business community would stage a white flag protest
programme on December 15 in front of their respective trade bodies,
chambers, associations and business houses across the country demanding
peace and protesting destruction of business infrastructure, political
violence, hartals and blockades.
The demonstration will continue from 11.30am to 12 noon. Central
demonstration will be staged in front of the FBCCI building where
business leaders including former FBCCI presidents will speak, he said.
‘We want a business-friendly environment and permanent solution of the crisis. We don’t want to see further damage,’ he said.
The FBCCI president also urged the all political groups to arrive in a
peaceful consensus politically, saying that political crisis cannot be
solved through destroying resources and life.
Kazi Akram hoped that the recent development in political arena in which
two major parties were sitting for dialogue would bring positive
results and a peaceful solution of the crisis.
‘In this process, peace will prevail in the country through elections,’ the FBCCI president expected.
He said that it would be impossible for businesses, particularly who
produce and trade perishable products, to offset the losses incurred in
last few months.
They will also not be able to pay interests of bank loans that will impact the banking sector, he said.
‘We have already requested the Bangladesh Bank for suspending interest
of bank loans and not to make default loans until political stability is
ensured,’ Kazi Akram said.
At the programme, former FBCCI presidents AK Azad, Annisul Huq, M Akram
Hossain, FBCCI first vice-president Monowara Hakim Ali, vice-president
Helal Uddin, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association
president Atiqul Islam, Bangladesh Textile Mills Association president
Jahangir Alamin, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters
Association vice-president Mohammad Hatem, among others, were present. (source)