UNB, Dhaka: Leading trade bodies, including the FBCCI, on Saturday strongly condemned the crude bomb blast during their peaceful hunger-strike programme in front of BGMEA Bhaban in the city. They demanded the arrest and exemplary punishment of those involved in the attack describing the act as ‘attack on the entire business community.’ “We strongly condemn it. We think it’s an attack on the entire business community,” President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) M Atitul Islam told UNB after the crude bomb blast. A group of unidentified youths blasted a crude bomb just in front of the main stage of the hunger-strike programme around 12:30pm creating panic among the business leaders. However, no one was hurt in the blast. Later, the BGMEA in a statement said they along with Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) condemn the attack. “Blasting a crude bomb during a peaceful programme is a direct attack on the readymade garment export industry and the country’s trade and commerce,” said the statement. The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), Bangladesh Employers Federation, Bangladesh association of Banks, Bangladesh Insurance association, Bangladesh Covered Van Truck Owners Association, Bangladesh Bus, Truck Owners association, Bangladesh Truck Covered Van owners association, Bangladesh Reconditioned Vehicles Importers and Dealers Association, Bangladesh Cotton association, Exporters Association of Bangladesh and other chambers and associations denounced the incident. Earlier, exporters and business bodies, as part of its ongoing programme in protest against hartal and blockade, started their token hunger strike at about 11am seeking an end to violence and thus restoring a peaceful business environment in the country. They urged the political parties concerned to stop violence and attacks on innocent people and withdraw the blockade and hartal to save the economy. Various bodies and individuals expressed solidarities with the businesspeople and their peaceful programme. Speaking at the hunger-strike programme, Atiqul Islam said they want a peaceful business environment. “We don’t know about our future business. We don’t know how we’ll manage the losses,” he said urging all to stop the destructive political programmes in the country. Atiqul said they do not understand politics, and sought support from all for enabling them to continue their business peacefully. Journalist Mozammel Babu who expressed solidarity with the businesspeople said if the current situation continues people will have to remain unfed. Mentioning that the government is failing to ensure security, he said they — the journalists and businesspeople — are ready to stand beside the government to fight against the terrorists. Former FBCCI President AK Azad, FBCCI first vice president Abul Kashem Ahmed, EAB President Abdus Salam Murshedy, business leader Tapan Chowdhury of Square Group, former BGMEA president Anwar-ul-Alam Chowdhury Parvez, former DCCI President Asif Ibrahim, BKMEA first vice president AH Aslam Sunny and former Bangladesh Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry Syed Nurul Islam were present. Popular folk singer Abdul Kuddus Boyati and his team performed popular patriotic songs at the programme. Earlier on Wednesday, the business leaders made the announcement of the hunger strike after a marathon emergency meeting with all the stakeholders involved in the export sector held at BGMEA’s Nurul Kader Auditorium in the city on Wednesday. The BGMEA would inform all when they would go for legal remedy — filing a writ petition seeking a High Court ruling against violence and blockade and hartal — within the next couple of days. They are already in consultation with legal experts to that end so that they can move ahead as per law.
