Ctg businesses hold sit-in

CHITTAGONG, Feb 8: The businesses and industrialists of Chittagong have urged all to resist anarchic activities in guise of hartal and blockade throughout the country.
They made the call during a sit-in programme in front of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) office at Agrabad in the port-city on Sunday.
It was held at the call of the country's apex trade body - Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) - from 12.00 pm to 12.15 pm.
CCCI organised the sit-in to protest the ongoing hartal and indefinite blockade, sponsored by the BNP-Jamaat-led 20-Party Alliance. The slogan of the programme was - 'The Country is above all. Save the country, Save the Economy'.
Among others, FBCCI, BGMEA, BKMEA, Bangladesh Garments Association, BARVIDA, Customs Clearing and Forwarding Agents Association, Chittagong Women Chamber, Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association,  Khatungonj Trade and Industries Association, Bangladesh Dokan Malik Samity, Investors Forum, Chittagong, Freight Forwarders Association, BGAPMEA, Lucky Plaza Shop Owners, Tamakumondi Lane Banik Samity, Golam Rasul Market Banik Samity, Jubilee Road Merchants Association, Akhtaruzzaman Centre Babosayee Samity, and Bangkok-Singapore Market Babosayee Samity participated in the protest programme.
Calling upon the leaders to do politics maintaining the democratic norms, the trade body leaders said destruction of the country's economy cannot be the way of politics of any party.
CCCI president Mahbubul Alam said the businesses pay tax, duty and VAT to the government. "So it is the government's duty to give us protection."