Traders threaten tougher move

FE Report | Published: February 15, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

Stakeholders in the country's textile and garment sector threatened on Saturday a tougher move, if the ongoing political stalemate does not come to a peaceful end immediately.
"Don't force us to take to the streets with all of our workers paralysing the whole country," said Md Atiqul Islam, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), at a token hunger strike programme in front of the BGMEA headquarters in the city.
He also warned the political leaders not to take their token hunger strike lightly.
He requested all the political parties to hammer out a decision immediately to solve the ongoing crisis and create a trade and business-friendly environment.
At the beginning of the hunger strike cocktails were blasted near the venue panicking the strikers. Trade bodies from different areas slammed the cocktail blast.
BGMEA, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) jointly organised the hunger strike programme. Leaders from the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI), Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) and other backward and forward linkage industries and a group of labour leaders also participated in the strike.
In the evening Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique offered them water to break the hunger strike that started at 11am.
Condemning the bomb blast, the BGMEA president said: "We think it is an attack on the entire business community and it has created panic."
"For God's sake, please give us a peaceful and trade and business-friendly environment," Mr Islam said.
"Buyers are frequently asking about the ongoing situation and making queries whether we will be able to make timely shipment," FBCCI former president AK Azad said.
"Helplessly, we are trying to convince them that the ongoing deadlock would come to an end shortly, though the reality is we don't know when the destructive activities will come to an end," he added.
He also warned of a tougher move with all the business community and other professionals, if the ongoing political turmoil is not resolved soon.
Condemning the destructive political activities, BTMA president Tapan Chowdhury said: "We are here to protest such destructive political activities."
"We hope we don't need to declare further programmes and that all the political parties will resolve the ongoing crisis."
FBCCI President Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed called for a mutual solution to save the economy saying if the trade and business were destroyed, the economy would be ruined.
Former BGMEA president Abdus Salam Murshedy called on the political parties to resolve the political deadlock politically for the sake of the economy and the country.  
Expressing solidarity with the hunger strike programme, Executive Director of the Policy Research Institute of Bangladesh (PRI) Ahsan H Mansur suggested the political parties to take a move for a long term solution in the greater interest of the country's economy.
However, two committees were formed at the hunger strike programme.
One is headed by BGMEA former president Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin with all its former presidents and leaders and representatives from the three apparel trade bodies and other associations engaged in apparel business to decide on what to do against the backdrop of the deepening political turmoil.
The other committee, headed by BGMEA former president Abdus Salam Murshedy, will deal with the issues related to bank, insurance and customs.
However, different trade bodies condemned the cocktail blasts near the hunger strike venue.
In a written statement issued on the day, the FBCCI condemned the cocktail attacks.
Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) also condemned the attack and expressed its deep concern.
"DCCI thinks that businessmen are now raising their voice to save their industries," said the statement issued on the day.
Our Correspondent in Chittagong reports: The manufacturers and exporters of readymade garment in Chittagong staged a symbolic hunger strike at the BGMEA Chittagong regional office at Khulsi to protest against the political stalemate.
On the occasion BGMEA first vice president Nasiruddin Ahmed Chowdhury said the RMG industry was on the verge of total destruction. The RMG export target of US$ 50 billion by 2021 cannot be attained if this violent political situation lingers on.
BGMEA director Syed Nazrul Islam, Anjan Shakhar Das, former first vice president SM Abu Tayab, former director SM Sajudul Islam, Helal Uddin Chowdhury, Hasanuzzaman Chowdhury and AM Chowdhury Selim were also present.
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