FBCCI urges 20-party to withdraw hartal

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) on Sunday urged the BNP-led 20-party alliance to withdraw their hartal called for Monday in the interest of the country’s political stability and economic progress. In a statement, the apex trade body also said the country’s business community will face together any attempt to destabilise the economy by creating anarchy in the name of political programmes and they will take to the streets, if necessary. It noted that the hartal announced by the 20-party alliance will greatly affect the day-to-day activities of the citizens and obstruct the production and transportation of goods. Besides the economic losses, the hartal (shutdown) will also cast a negative impact on the academic activities of students. Observing that the country has managed to recoup the damages done by the outbreak of violence before the January-5 elections, the FBCCI said the return of hartal will obliterate the economic progress of the country, according to a news agency.