Staff Reporter :
Business leaders on Monday, at a meeting with the Finance Minister, put forward a 20-point demand for recovering their losses that they have so far suffered due to the ongoing blockade and hartals enforced by BNP-led opposition alliance. Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed, president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) led the business community leaders at the meeting with AMA Muhith. The meeting was held at Muhith’s Secretariat office in the city.
“We met the Finance Minister Monday to appraise him about the current situation in the country’s trade and commerce specially the export business, which has been seriously battered by the ongoing blockade and hartals,” Abdus Salam, Murshedy, president of the Exporters Association of Bangladesh (EAB) told The New Nation after the meeting.
He added: We also placed a set of demands to him to recover losses incurred due to political unrest since January 5. According to him, their demands include deferred payment of loans, rescheduling of terms loans for five years, incentives against export to European Union (EU) countries.
“We sought incentives against the export to the EU markets due to sharp fall in the value in recent times. At the same time, the exporters also demanded an enhanced rate of incentives to their exports in the non-traditional markets,” he added.
The EAB leader further said that they have urged the Minister to offer the incentives as soon as possible to help recover our losses incurred due to blockade and hartals.
Salam Murshedy said that the business community prepared the charter of demands in line with the recommendations made earlier by the sector people.
“The Minister gave a patience hearing on the demands and assured us to consider them for gearing up export trade and factory output,” he added.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith said that political programmes like shutdown and blockade are impeding the economic development of the country and that is why these should come to an end.
“The ongoing political impasse that started from January 5 this year is seriously affecting economic activities throughout the country posing a serious threat to its development,” said Muhith.
“I am worried over the country’s current political situation because it is going on for the last two months which is totally unexpected,” Muhith said, adding, “This is not a ‘national crisis’ but definitely it is hindering normal life and business activities across the country.”
He further said that the present (political) situation should come to an end immediately for the sake of the country, but no symptom is in sight to overcome the deadlock.
“Keeping common people hostage through waging blockade, strikes and violence is not acceptable. We all urge the BNP to end their ongoing destructive political programme. This should be their prime duty because they are also the citizens of the country,” said Muhith.
M Atiqul Islam, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Tapon Chowdhury, president of Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), A H Aslam Sunny, first vice-president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), Syed Nasim Manzur, president of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) and representatives of other related sectors, were also present, at the meeting.
