Kazi Zahidul Hasan :
Business leaders have expressed serious concern over the mounting tension in the country’s political arena with ruling Awami League and opposition BNP locked in a showdown to flex muscle afresh.
The fear has mounted against the backdrop of Wednesday’s clash between student supporters of the ruling Awami League and BNP during the court appearance of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia that left several hundred people injured.
The business leaders renewed calls for political leaders to work even
through their bitter divisions, warning that a prolonged political instability would take a dangerous toll on Bangladesh economy.
“We are worried over the fresh political violence. The business community never supports street violence and hartal that always takes heavy toll on the economy,” Hossain Khaled, President of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) told The New Nation on Friday.
He mentioned that many lives were lost, properties damaged and the economy suffered a serious setback from street violence and series of hartals and blockades in 2013.
“The national economy has been able to bounce back taking advantage of a relatively political clam persisted in the year 2014, with business confidence seems to be restored,” he said, adding, “At that time, a fresh volatility in the country’s political arena will further dampen confidence of the investors and entrepreneurs pushing the economy into deep trouble.”
Hossain Khaled urged the ruling Awami League and BNP to shun the path of violence considering interest of the country and keep moving the wheel of national economy.
Terming political violence as ‘self-destructive, he appealed both the parties not to resort to street violence, rather sorting out differences on national issues through negotiation.
“We expect sensible role from the political leaders and they should discuss all the issues in parliament to resolve ongoing political impasse refraining showdown in the street,” he noted.
“We had to bear huge losses during the previous occasions of political violence and shutdowns. A fresh move to create political instability will bring further damaging impact on businesses,” said Riaz Bin Mahmood, Vice-President of Bangladesh Garment Manufactures and Exporters Association (BGMEA). He said the apparel sector always been the worst sufferer of political violence and hartal as production and export activities of garment industries are seriously hampered during such a political environment. “It also tarnish image of the country aboard wreaking confidence of the global buyers,” he added.
Reaz urged the political parties to resolve the political crisis politically as soon as possible to save the highest export-earning sector of the country.
“We are frustrated by the street violence as it would bring nothing good but to disrupt economic activities of the country,” said AKM Selim Osman, President of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA).
Referring to a recent study, he said, political turmoil caused the national economy a loss of Tk 11,000 crore in the fiscal year 2013-14, which is around one per cent of GDP.
There had been a serious political unrest in the first six months of that fiscal when different political parties and alliances observed 45 days of hartal and blockade.
He said communication was disrupted, port activities and export-import came to a halt, retail and wholesale business came down to almost zero, causing huge losses to the businessmen as well as the national economy.
“So, we don’t expect reversal of such situation, he said,” adding, “We urge all to take initiatives to reach a consensus and relieve the businesspeople from incurring further loses.”
Selim Osman, also a Member of Parliament, urged the BNP to call off their Saturday’s hartal programme in Gazipur for the interest of the economy.
Business leaders have expressed serious concern over the mounting tension in the country’s political arena with ruling Awami League and opposition BNP locked in a showdown to flex muscle afresh.
The fear has mounted against the backdrop of Wednesday’s clash between student supporters of the ruling Awami League and BNP during the court appearance of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia that left several hundred people injured.
The business leaders renewed calls for political leaders to work even
through their bitter divisions, warning that a prolonged political instability would take a dangerous toll on Bangladesh economy.
“We are worried over the fresh political violence. The business community never supports street violence and hartal that always takes heavy toll on the economy,” Hossain Khaled, President of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) told The New Nation on Friday.
He mentioned that many lives were lost, properties damaged and the economy suffered a serious setback from street violence and series of hartals and blockades in 2013.
“The national economy has been able to bounce back taking advantage of a relatively political clam persisted in the year 2014, with business confidence seems to be restored,” he said, adding, “At that time, a fresh volatility in the country’s political arena will further dampen confidence of the investors and entrepreneurs pushing the economy into deep trouble.”
Hossain Khaled urged the ruling Awami League and BNP to shun the path of violence considering interest of the country and keep moving the wheel of national economy.
Terming political violence as ‘self-destructive, he appealed both the parties not to resort to street violence, rather sorting out differences on national issues through negotiation.
“We expect sensible role from the political leaders and they should discuss all the issues in parliament to resolve ongoing political impasse refraining showdown in the street,” he noted.
“We had to bear huge losses during the previous occasions of political violence and shutdowns. A fresh move to create political instability will bring further damaging impact on businesses,” said Riaz Bin Mahmood, Vice-President of Bangladesh Garment Manufactures and Exporters Association (BGMEA). He said the apparel sector always been the worst sufferer of political violence and hartal as production and export activities of garment industries are seriously hampered during such a political environment. “It also tarnish image of the country aboard wreaking confidence of the global buyers,” he added.
Reaz urged the political parties to resolve the political crisis politically as soon as possible to save the highest export-earning sector of the country.
“We are frustrated by the street violence as it would bring nothing good but to disrupt economic activities of the country,” said AKM Selim Osman, President of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA).
Referring to a recent study, he said, political turmoil caused the national economy a loss of Tk 11,000 crore in the fiscal year 2013-14, which is around one per cent of GDP.
There had been a serious political unrest in the first six months of that fiscal when different political parties and alliances observed 45 days of hartal and blockade.
He said communication was disrupted, port activities and export-import came to a halt, retail and wholesale business came down to almost zero, causing huge losses to the businessmen as well as the national economy.
“So, we don’t expect reversal of such situation, he said,” adding, “We urge all to take initiatives to reach a consensus and relieve the businesspeople from incurring further loses.”
Selim Osman, also a Member of Parliament, urged the BNP to call off their Saturday’s hartal programme in Gazipur for the interest of the economy.
