Staff Reporter :The leaders of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) have urged the government to form a “Citizen Council” comprising senior citizens, business representatives, academics, journalists and other professionals from important sectors to get a solution over ongoing political crisis. The DCCI leaders also have said the country’s business suffered a total loss of Tk 36,445.76 crore in last 16 days since 5th January due to widespread violence following blockade and hartal enforced by BNP and its allies. As per the estimate, the amount of loss per day is Tk 2,277.86 crore.”We [the business community] have been repeatedly calling upon the political parties to resolve the current political impasse. But we are disappointed over the prevailing situation. We want to discuss with the two major parties. The economic progress is not possible without their involvement,” said the DCCI President Hossain Khaled while addressing a press conference on Thursday. DCCI organized the press conference on “Recent Political unrest and Economic deadlock” held at its auditorium in the city. “We have suffered a loss, amounting to Tk 36,445.76 crore, during the blockade due to political unrest in about 16 business sectors including, readymade garments, agriculture, real estate, wholesale and retail market,” he added.The DCCI Chief said that the estimation of losses was compiled from different reports of newspapers and associations’ bulletins through DCCI’s own research wing. Focusing on the country’s economic growth, he said, “Political instability, mainly due to hartal and blockade, has been eating up the country’s economic prospect. Bangladesh has all the possibilities to become the leading readymade garment (RMG) exporter. And if there is political stability, the gross domestic product (GDP) will reach 12 percent to 14 percent from the existing 6.5 percent. ” Taking a question, the DCCI President said, the responsibility of the businessmen is to develop the country’s economy through generating employment and demanding business friendly guidelines. “We don’t like to talk about politics. But the present political situation has compelled us to urge both sides for resolving political issues,” he said. The DCCI president suggested to form a citizens’ council taking representatives from different professional groups having no political identity. “The council will put forward acceptable suggestions through equal evaluation of political parties. Their suggestions and recommendations may be discussed in the parliament, if necessary,” he noted. Senior Vice President Humayun Rashid, Vice President Md Shoaib Choudhury, Directors AKD Khair Mohammad Khan, Alhaj Abdus Salam, K Atique E Rabbani, FCA, Osman Gani, Muktar Hossain Chowdhury, S Rumi Saifullah, among others, were present.
