Speakers at a dialogue expressed their grave concern Monday over the prolonged political unrest which they said brought the country's economy on the verge of near collapse.
The apex trade body's chief joined his voice with them in this situation and demanded immediate cessation of all violent activities through effective initiatives.
They urged the government to take tougher measures, if necessary, to stem the tide of troubles.
Their observations came at a dialogue on 'Impact of political unrest on the economy' at the National Press Club.
Speaking as chief guest, Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) president Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed presented an account of a colossal damage in terms of lost GDP due to the political turmoil.
"The national economy is facing a disaster due to the ongoing political turmoil," said Mr Akram.
He told his audience that the economic losses the nation sustained in last two and a half months due to political violence surpass more than half the country's annual budget.
The country's business community, especially the small businessmen, is the worst sufferers from the ongoing political violence, unleashed by the BNP-led 20-party alliance's programme, said the FBCCI president.
He urged the BNP chairperson to "stop the killing of innocent people and destroying the economy".
"You cannot expect any logical solution through illogical activities. Stop violence, we will put pressure on the government to sit for dialogue," he said.
Despite the huge damage done to the economy, the FBCCI president is still hopeful about recouping the losses if the violence stops at once.
"We are still hopeful of having a positive growth of GDP, if the turmoil ceases right now," he told the meet.
Bangladesh Tariff Commission former chairman Dr Md. Mozibur Rahman, who moderated the dialogue, strongly condemned the political violence in the name of blockade and hartal and urged the government to ensure safety and security of common people and their property by applying strict rules of law, if necessary.
He called for taking necessary actions against "terrorists and militants who have been creating anarchy and killing innocent people" by hurling petrol bombs and subversive act in the name of political movement.
"There are many ways to contain unrest. Dialogue is one. If nothing becomes instrumental, the government may resort to stringent rules of law," said Mr Rahman.
He was of the view that the crisis would not be over unless the politicians want stability.
Organised by a local news magazine, Time Watch, the dialogue was also addressed, among others, by REHAB (Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh) president Alamgir Shamsul Alamin, TDAB (Tourism Development Association of Bangladesh) President Zamiul Ahmed and CNG Filling and Conversion Association President Masud Khan.
Naogoan Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Mohammad Ali Deen presided over the meeting while Time Watch Advisory Editor Bazlur Raihan presented the keynote paper.
In his paper, Raihan tried to portray a total picture of damages inflicted on the economy during the last two and a half months of political violence accompanying blockade and frequent shutdowns.
The writer figured out the losses from the assessments made by various quarters, including the trade bodies like DCCI and FBCCI and research organisations like CPD.
To overcome the crisis he also endorsed the DCCI suggestion for the formation of a citizens' council with senior citizens, business representatives, media personnel, educationists and experts to deal with the current situation.
Most of the speakers observed that the economy is on the verge of collapse. They urged political parties to follow democratic norms to voice their demands.
If this situation doesn't improve, many of them suggested the government should go for strict measures.
In his presidential address, the Naogoan chamber president said interests on bank loans of affected industries and businesses must be waived and the loans rescheduled.
"Otherwise, they will not survive," he added.
"The BNP-led alliance unleashed the political violence at a time when the country was heading towards development and prosperity to achieve the status of a middle-income country by the year 2021."
Terming the blockade and hartal of the BNP-Jamaat-led 20 party alliance as unethical, he expressed his hope that good sense would prevail on the BNP chief for stopping violence, killing and anarchy.
mzrbd@yahoo.com
