Political unrest costs economy Tk 1,000b in past months: Barakat

Depicting the present dismal picture of country's economy, speakers at a discussion meeting urged the government Saturday for taking prompt initiative to improve the ongoing political situation.
They said if the present confrontational politics continue, the country's ready-made garment (RMG) industry, top export sector, will lose its business to other countries.
"If the political turmoil continues for another three to four months, the RMG businessmen would be bound to shut down about 400 garment factories and about 0.4 million workers will lose their jobs," former president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Anwar-ul Alam Chowdhury Parvez said while speaking at the discussion.
The Krishi Sramik Odhikar Mancha, a platform for agriculture workers, organised the discussion on 'Militant and Destructive Politics: Impacts on Socio-economic sector including Labourers and General People' at the CIRDAP auditorium in the city.
Economist Professor Abul Barakat said the economic loss due to destructive politics for the last couple of months will exceed about Tk 1000 billion and the amount will be much higher if all the affected sectors are brought into consideration.
"It is not possible to estimate the exact amount of the financial loss because of the ongoing violence. It is huge and irreparable," he said.
Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu said the militants should be excluded from the democratic politics.
"We reached a consensus on introduction of democratic politics in 1990, but in last 23 years, militants and anti-liberation forces gathered much strength which is a threat to independence of the country," he said.
The chairman of Palli Karma Shahayak Foundation (PKSF) Dr. Kazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad said the country's politics is now divided into two forces-pro and anti- liberation.
"We have taken a strong decision to destroy the anti-liberation forces because their activities prove that they are the enemy of general people," he said.
Khondkar Ibrahim Khaled, former central bank deputy governor, stressed on signing a social contract among the political parties and they have to reach a consensus against militancy and destructive politics in the country.
"Religion based politics should be banned and laws should be enacted to uphold the dignity of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as none can humiliate him," he said.
Journalist Abed Khan said about 33 per cent of the country's service sector is under the grab of Jammat-e-Islami. So, the economy should be recued from their grip, he said.
Posts and Telecommunications Minister Rahsed Khan Menon, Shirin Akter, MP, Fazle Hossain Badsha, MP, Economist MM Akash, MR Debonath, Dhaka University Professors Dr Wahiduzzaman, Dr Zinat Huda, Dr Nilufra Banu of Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad and Zaheda Ahmed addressed the discussion, among others.