Call off hartal, trade bodies urge Jamaat

Different trade-bodies urged Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Wednesday to withdraw its 72 hours hartal for the sake of the country's economy and continued growth.

They also called upon the political parties to take alternative programmes instead of hartal.  

Jamaat-e-Islami has called countrywide hartal for today (October 30) and November 2 and 3 in protest against the death sentence awarded to its amir Motiur Rahman Nizami by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 on charges of crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War.

The first phase of 24-hour hartal starts from Thursday 6:00am, while the second phase of 48-hour will start from Sunday 6:00am, and will conclude at Tuesday 6:00am.

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) in a statement urged withdrawal of the 72 hours hartal to ensure unhampered foreign investment and smooth productivity.

"Investment-friendly environment is now prevailing in the country. Foreign currency reserves, remittance, foreign investment, import and export activities show a positive sign. China, Japan, Cambodia, Italy and other countries expressed interest to invest in the country. Under these circumstances, any negative acts like hartal would cast a negative impact on the country's image and discourage foreign investors to invest in the country," said the statement.

The Bangladesh Insurance Association (BIA) also urged Jamaat-e-Islami to call off its planned nationwide hartal.

In a statement BIA said the insurance companies, like other businesses, are affected by hartal. BIA urged all the political parties not to go for stringent steps like hartal in future.

The Bangladesh Indenting Agents Association (BIAA) in a statement also called upon Jamaat to withdraw hartal, as the country is now moving forward in the competitive world to emerge as a middle-income country amid global economic inflation.

talhabinhabib@yahoo.com