Businessmen hand memo to PM, Khaleda seeking respite
Leaders of different trade and labour bodies today submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina seeking her attention to ensure trade-friendly atmosphere in the country.
The memorandum sought prime minister’s steps against those carrying out violence destroying the trade-friendly atmosphere of the country and to ensure safety and security of ready-made garment (RMG) goods and business.
A team of businessmen led by Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Atiqul Islam went to the PMO this afternoon and handed over the memo to an official of the PM’s office.
Later, Atiqul Islam, on behalf of at least 10 business bodies, submitted a similar memorandum to the BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan office urging her to keep RMG sector out of political programmes like hartal and blockade.
In the memorandum, Atiqul Islam also urged the BNP chief to keep Dhaka-Chittagong highway out of the hartal and blockade for the “greater national interest”.
Earlier in the day, leaders of different trade and labour bodies formed a human chain in front of BGMEA Bhaban at Karwan bazar in Dhaka to press home their demands.
Leaders of BGMEA, Bangladesh Textiles Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BTMEA), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and several other trade bodies attended the human chain that was staged around 10:30am.
In the human chain, BGMEA President Atiqul Islam said, “We, the businessmen will be bankrupt soon if the countrywide blockade is prolonged.”
The overall order for RMG items from foreign buyers has already decreased by 30 percent, he claimed.
In a desperate move, the business leaders formed the human chain on the 23rd day of the blockade enforced by the BNP-led 20-party alliance.
Khaleda called the indefinite blockade from January 5 as the government did not allow her party and its allies to hold a rally in the capital.
Comments