Finance Minister AMA Muhith assured the businesses on Monday of looking into their demands, including relaxation of loan repayment provision, to help them recoup the losses caused the ongoing political stalemate.
"The prevailing political impasse is a serious impediment (to the country's overall trade and economy). And I understand you (businessmen) are suffering because of it. We have to think what can be done for you," Mr Muhith said.
"We will discuss internally to decide what to do," he said while talking to a group of businesspeople, led by BGMEA President Atiqul Islam, at his secretariat office in the city.
Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry President Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed, President of both Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Leathergoods and Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association of Bangladesh Syed Nasim Manzur, President of Exporters Association of Bangladesh Abdus Salam Murshedy, Vice president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association Aslam Sunny and Vice President of Bangladesh Textile Mills Association Abdul Mannan Mia, among others, spoke in the meeting.
Terming the present situation 'unexpected and unnecessary', the minister said they got worried as foreign buyers were not coming to Bangladesh for negotiations on their future orders.
"People are panicked as the situation prolongs," he said, adding that there is no sign of an end to such situation.
BGMEA President Md Atiqul Islam presented a keynote paper explaining the current situation of the RMG sector, its export trend, impact of hartals and blockades and challenges.
On behalf of all the export-oriented sectors, including readymade garment and textiles and its related backward and forward linkage industries, Abdus Salam Murshedy placed a 20-point demand to recoup the losses caused by the ongoing political turmoil.
A coordination committee, formed to quantify the losses faced due to the political stalemate, prepared the list in line with the demands made by the sectors' people.
The demands included not to classify any loans, loan reschedulement, extension of loan repayment period for term, forced and project loans, immediate release of cash incentive etc.
They also sought withdrawal of additional port fee due to congestion following the hartals and blockades, keeping the customs cell of Sonali Bank and Inland Container Depots (ICDs) open during holidays for smooth export-import activities.
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