The country's apex trade body called upon the political parties Saturday to resolve the ongoing political crisis, otherwise it will take legal measures for protecting the country's economy.
"We call upon the political parties to take effective steps for resolving the ongoing political impasse. Otherwise, considering the ongoing political situation, we will be compelled to seek legal protection, if law covers," President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed told the media on the day at its office in the capital.
He urged the political parties to withdraw the ongoing blockade and find out a solution through meaningful discussion.
He said that Muslim devotees are facing troubles in attending Biswa Ijtema due to the blockade programme.
Mr Ahmed said the board of directors of FBCCI held a meeting to discuss the current political stalemate and find out away forward as they are already pushed against the wall.
He said the board of directors of FBCCI allowed him to go for legal protection as they do not want to get affected further.
Asked whether they (FBCCI) are going to meet again with the political parties (mainly Awami League and BNP), he said, "We tried our best for a dialogue among the political parties before the last year's election. But we failed due to inflexibility of one party. We would not ask political parties further to sit for dialogue for resolving the ongoing political crisis".
Stressing the need for political stability he said, "Politicians do politics and the businessmen do business. The businessmen of the country are always against destructive politics such as hartal/blockade/violence for achieving the economic growth".
He said the politics of violence is always a threat to the economy of the country.
"Negative political programme such as hartal or blockade must be avoided, otherwise the country could not become a middle income country," he said.
"There must be consensus through meaningful dialogue among the political parties for the sake of socio-economic development and prosperity of the country," Mr Ahmed added.
He said the ongoing blockade programme sponsored by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is taking its toll on the country's economy and transport sector.
He said that due to the ongoing blockade the transport sector incurs financial losses to the tune of Tk 2 billion daily, halting the movement of transports and people.
He said the transport, industrial production and tourism sectors are hit hard due to blockade programmes.
He said there might be negative impacts on the banking sector as the number of classified loans is on the rise.
He urged the government to waive bank loan interest as production is being hampered due to the blockade programme.
"Nine people have been killed, vehicles were set ablaze and vandalised, railway lines damaged since January 5 last till date. We, the businessmen, are worried over the situation. A state of uncertainty and worrying situation is now prevailing in the country due to ongoing violent politics," he said.
He said hartal or blockade programmes yield only huge economic losses to the country and the businesspeople count the maximum losses.
"The ongoing political instability is not only hurting the economy, but also hampering normal public life, especially the students and examinees," he said.
FBCCI's first Vice-President (VP) Monowara Hakim Ali, VP Md Helal Uddin and other board of directors, among others, were present.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com
