Economists and businessmen have expressed their deep concern over the economic losses and the country's image crisis abroad due to frequent hartal (general strikes), saying such programmes do not only bleed the economy but also retard the growth of other sectors.
Export and import trade faces setback; production, supplies get disrupted and future investment becomes uncertain for the political culture of 'hartal', they observed.
They said confrontational politics at its peak particularly during the run-up to the national parliamentary elections is not uncommon in Bangladesh, but it needs to be done away with.
Both economists and businesses felt that the major political parties need to find out an immediate solution to the politics of confrontation for sake of the economy.
Former adviser to the caretaker government AB Mirza Azizul Islam said that hartal should not be a weapon for solving political crisis.
Businessmen while producing goods for international market have to encounter lots of problems and now it is the responsibility of the political parties not to harm the prospects of timely marketing, Mirza Aziz said.
Akber Ali Khan, former adviser to the caretaker government said of course freedom of expression is a fundamental right in a democratic society. However, when shutdowns are enforced frequently and violently, they exact a heavy economic costs from producers, consumers, investors and the economy as a whole. Assessing the economic implications of hartal is thus important from three perspectives, he said.
Ahsan H Mansur, executive director of the Policy Research Institute (PRI) of Bangladesh, a private think-tank, said attaining even 6.03 per cent GDP growth (achieved in 2012-13) will be a tough job, if such programmes persist.
Bangladesh's economy which has been expanding, on an average, at about 6.0 per cent since the second half of the current decade was officially projected to grow at 7.2 per cent in the current fiscal year (FY'14).
Dr Mansur said general strikes are affecting the services sector which account for more than 50 per cent of the country's GDP.
"The rising cost of living has already put the common people under severe hardship. The continuation of the present confrontational politics and frequent shutdowns would further worsen the situation," he noted.
He also pointed out that service sector like transportation and tourism sectors will face setback.
Dr Mansur further added the small business enterprises are the worst victims of the 'hartal' programme.
Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, distinguished fellow of leading think-tank Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), said hartal creates uncertainty for future investment and halts employment generation.
"Hartal is definitely not helping the country's economy as it creates supply disturbance, and economic loss of hartal is more tangible," he said. He further said: "Hartal does substantial damage to the overall economy of a country."
President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed said hartal was enforced at a time when both exports and imports were rising, signalling a positive sign for the country's economy.
Former President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) AK Azad demanded law to ban hartal, considering the loss it inflicts on the country's economy.
"The government should enact a law banning hartal. Hartal impacts negatively on the economy," AK Azad said.
"We would want a guarantee from the next elected government that it would not allow hartals and other destructive activities and all problems and disagreements would be resolved in parliament," said Mir Nasir Hossain, former FBCCI president.
He further said: "We also want a guarantee from the next government to exercise our constitutional right to doing business." adding the next opposition party must respect the people's verdict in the election.
Akhtaruzzaman Manju, Chairman of Bangladesh Dokan Malik Samity (BDMS) said presently the state of business is very bad and there is no hope of a change in such volatile political situation before election. "So, we are forced to sustain huge losses during this time".
The BDMS Chairman said not only the shop owners, but also people, directly or indirectly involved in the supply chain, will be deprived of their earnings. Nearly 7.0 million families are dependent on the supply chain.
He also said earlier they kept their shops open during shutdowns but now it is not possible as violence has increased during hartal. It starts at least two days before such programme.
Atiqul Islam, President, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) said it is the peak season for production in the readymade garment factories, and owners are worried about how they would cope with the situation.
"This is the peak time for making shipments of readymade garment items for the Christmas season. Late shipment means either cancellation of orders, or expensive air shipment, or more discount to buyers," BGMEA President Atiqul Islam told The Financial Express.
The BGMEA president called upon the opposition to exempt the backward linkage industry of Readymade Garments (RMG) from the purview of hartal programme considering the interest of the country's largest forex earner.
Abdus Salam Murshedy, President of Exporters Association of Bangladesh (EAB), said that the entire connectivity of import and exports starting from production level to transportation of workers are hampered during the strike.
Murshedy, also former president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), called upon the political leaders to come to a compromise so that the 10th parliamentary election could be held in a truly free and fair atmosphere to uphold the democratic process in the country.
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