Business bodies to form human chain tomorrow

Businesspeople will interlock their hands in a planned human chain in the capital tomorrow (Monday) to make a formal joint call upon the two main political rivals to resolve the ongoing political impasse through dialogue as the economy bleeds.
"We want to get rid of such a political situation. We are going to form a human chain in front of the BGMEA building on January 26, 2015 to seek an end to the ongoing political crisis," President of the Exporters Association of Bangladesh (EAB) Abdus Salam Murshedy told the FE.
"From the programme on Monday we will call upon the ruling Awami League and the BNP to resolve the crisis," he said.  
He said the ongoing blockade programme sponsored by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is taking its toll on the country's economy and transport sector in particular.  
The country has suffered an economic loss to the tune of Tk 400 billion in 19 days due to the ongoing political unrest stoked up by blockade and periodical general strikes, the leading businessman said.
He said the financial losses for a single day's hartal or blockade come to Tk 23 billion. And if such situation persists for a longer period, the nation's target to earn $50 billion from exports might be hampered.
The chief of the exporters' association aired such fear as, he said, the deadlock on the political front is already making it difficult for them to maintain their production and export.
He said discussions were now underway among different trade bodies to make the programme a success.  
The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and other trade bodies will join the programme, Mr Murshey said.
Earlier, the FBCCI and the DCCI from their separate programmes on January 10 and 22 called upon the two belligerent political camps to resolve the political crisis immediately to save the country's economy from further setbacks.
President of BKMEA AKM Salim Osman said the ongoing adverse political situation must be resolved at any cost.  
"The government should take the step to resolve the crisis. We do not want to see any more of such destructive situation. We want to save our businesses in the interest of country's economy," said Salim Osman, also a Jatiya Party MP.
Asked about the upcoming programme of the businessmen, he said, "We are likely to join it. We want to see immediate stop of such destructive politics for the betterment of the country's economy."
Earlier, the FBCCI had called upon the political parties during the second week of the current month to resolve the ongoing political crisis, failing which the business community would 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," FBCCI President Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed said on January 10.
He urged the political parties to withdraw the ongoing blockade and find out a solution through meaningful discussion.
"There must be consensus through meaningful dialogue among the political parties for the sake of socioeconomic development and prosperity of the country," Mr Ahmed said.
President of DCCI Hossain Khaled urged the political parties to eschew violence and destructive political activities and reach a solution through effective discussions so that the economy does not get affected.
"Our businesses are not running well. We are at risk due to the ongoing political unrest. We want to get rid of such an unpleasant situation," the DCCI president said on January 22 in his call for calm.
"Political movement should in no way turn violent. We expect a peaceful movement from political parties," he said and suggested dialogue as the only way to resolve the current political standoff.
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