Businesses chart course of action
FE Report | Monday, 2 February 2015
The businessmen of the country will observe a 15-minute sit-in programme across the country from 12:00 noon on February 8 carrying national flags in their hands and demanding immediate solution to the ongoing political deadlock.
The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the leaders of the country's leading trade bodies on Sunday in the backdrop of the volatile political situation in the country.
The meeting was held in the conference room of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) with its president Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed in the chair.
The BNP-led 20-party alliance has enforced a nonstop transport blockade that continued across the country for the 27th day on Sunday alongside a 72-hour countrywide hartal that got underway on the day.
The political programmes forced deferment of today's (Monday) SSC exams apart from the telling effects on businesses and public life.
"We all love our country. We demand an immediate end to the ongoing political impasse. We want to save our businesses and economy," Mr Akram said.
He also said their sit-in programme would be held in front of the FBCCI office and other district chamber and association offices. The businessmen will hold national flags in their hands and will sing the National Anthem during the programme.
The FBCCI president will read out a memorandum during the programme.
"After the programme, we will try to meet President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, opposition leader Rawshan Ershad in the parliament and BNP leader Khaleda Zia. We will hand over memorandums to them," Mr Ahmed told the media after a marathon meeting from around 5:30 pm to 7: 30 pm.
FBCC 1st Vice President Monowara Hakim Ali, VP Md Helal Uddin, former president of Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dhaka (MCCI) Rokia Afzal Rahman, president of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) Hossain Khaled, president of International Chamber of Commerce, Bangladesh (ICCB) Mahbubur Rahman, former presidents of FBCCI Yousuf Abdullah Haroon, AK Azad, Annisul Huq, Mir Nasir Hossain and other directors of FBCCI, among others, were present.
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