Businessmen urged on Wednesday the government to improve law and order in the interest of the country's business and economy.
They said that without stable and predictable law-and-order situation business and investment would not expand.
They said that in recent times, businessmen lost confidence in the case of trade and investment due to an insecure business environment, extortion, fraudulent online activities, transportation risks, corruption, cyber threat, etc.
They made the observations at a roundtable on the recent law and order situation in the country organised by Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) at the trade body's Motijheel office in the capital.
Addressing the event, DCCI President Taskeen Ahmed called upon the government to ensure a conducive environment for operating business in a smooth, transparent and secure manner.
"There is a need for collective efforts of all stakeholders to improve the current business environment," he said. He urged all to come forward to cooperate with the law enforcement agencies.
He said that every citizen had the right to exercise their democratic freedoms, it was equally important to uphold the rights of the business owners to operate their business without disruption.
Mentioning the difficult geo-economic situation, he urged all concerned to remain vigilant so that the day-to-day activities of the people were not disrupted along with conducting business.
He recommended more community policing, fast track response centres to tackle extortion and fraud, special mobile team for night time patrolling on highways to secure goods transport and ensure coordination among all the law enforcing agencies.
He also opined that administrative and commercial decentralisation was also necessary to reduce the ongoing pressure on the capital Dhaka, which would further consolidate the development of the country's marginal areas.
"We are seriously concerned about the recent law and order situation, because, it is not even restored up to the expected level yet. Though businessmen are paying taxes and VAT, their businesses are being hampered due to unstable law and order situation which is not acceptable," former senior vice president of DCCI Abdus Salam said.
He urged the law enforcing agencies to respond swiftly against the criminals.
Former DCCI vice-president M Abu Horairah recommended increasing parking facilities in South Dhaka.
He demanded relocation of the office of the traffic department of the south from Shantinagar to Gulistan.
He also suggested relocating the battery-run rickshaw from the city area.
He also demanded proper implementation of a strategic transport plan of Dhaka city immediately.
DCCI Director Enamul Haque Patwary suggested regular coordination meetings among the stakeholders and community awareness programmes.
He also requested the law enforcers to evacuate makeshift street shops from the footpath and roads.
President of Bangladesh Edible Oil Traders Association Golam Mowla said the law and order situation had not improved to the expected level after the political transition in the country.
He said the cost of importing goods through land ports was increasing because of hiring trucks through brokers.
He also said that due to the uncontrolled truck stand at Moulvibazar, a huge traffic congestion is created on the Babubazar Bridge, which is hampering business activities.
He said that there is a need to increase police patrol in Lalbagh, Kotwali and Chawkbazar areas in the evening for the safety of traders.
President of Bangladesh Sugar Traders Association Haji Md Abul Hashem urged the government to reduce the tax on imported sugar as the price of sugar increased due to higher tax.
He said that it also increased the capital investment of the traders as well.
He said that although the government had 14 sugar mills, at present a maximum of them remained closed and they could meet only 2.0 per cent of the total demand.
There are only three sugar mills in the private sector, very low in terms of quantity, he added.
He opined that the government should run at least two sugar mills throughout the year under a pilot project in order to ensure better supply chain and market competition.
He said supply chain and balanced competition would help reduce sugar price in the market.
President of Moulvibazar Traders Association Syed Mohammad Bashir Uddin suggested allowing open import of sugar and oil by the private sector importers.
He said it would help increase competition in the market and stop illegal hoarding and reduce the price of these items.
Senior vice-president of Bangladesh Pulses Traders Association Nesar Uddin Khan said the businessmen were deeply concerned about the juvenile gang. He sought intervention of the police administration to prevent it.
Vice-president of Bangladesh Monihari Merchants Association Hazi Foyezuddin said trucks carrying goods were not able to go to Chawkbazar and other places as the entry roads to old Dhaka were closed for various reasons.
He said although old Dhaka is a hub of business and commerce, the absence of any traffic police in Chawkbazar and Moulvibazar areas is making traffic congestions unbearable, which needs immediate action.
He said the small entrepreneurs are sometimes not getting adequate loans fulfilling various conditions of banks whereas tariffs on import of goods have gone high.
President of Mohammadpur Townhall Kachabazar Traders' Association Lutfur Rahman Babu said the law and order situation in Mohammadpur was deteriorating and the law enforcement agencies were not taking effective steps in this regard.
He also called for continuing the eviction of encroachments from the footpaths in front of the Townhall market.
Motijheel Police Station Inspector (Investigation) Md Mahaimenul Islam said the law and order situation after 5th August and now is not same, rather better.
He said that still it was not conducive for business activities.
DCCI senior vice president Razeev H Chowdhury, vice president Md. Salem Sulaiman and convenor of the law and order standing committee Waliul Islam Dollar and joint secretary of Bangladesh Monihari Bonik Somity (Bangladesh Monihari Merchants Association) Md Abul Aurangozeb Khan were also present in the meeting.
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