Business leaders demand powerful taskforce for bailout package

Business leaders yesterday reiterated their call for a powerful taskforce for quick implementation of the measures the government has taken to tackle the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

The government has already taken some short- and medium-term measures to help the beleaguered economy weather the impacts of the deadly bug, which has compelled the country to enforce a lockdown for three weeks at the time of writing. 

"But those measures need quick implementation and a powerful taskforce is needed," said the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) in a statement yesterday.

The business leaders, during a meeting with Salman F Rahman, adviser to the prime minister on private sector industry and investment, over video conference, also demanded the government take measures to increase liquidity supply in the banking system.

The business leaders expressed concerns as many people in Bangladesh are not following social distancing to remain safe from the highly contagious virus.

They assured their cooperation in this regard to the government so that people follow social distancing.

Md Sirazul Islam, executive chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority; Rupali Chowdhury, president of the Foreign Investors' Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Asif Ibrahim, founder president of the Business Initiative Leading Development; Naser Ezaz Bijoy, chief executive officer of Standard Chartered Bangladesh; Nihad Kabir, president of the MCCI; Anis A Khan, vice-president of MCCI; Syed Nasim Manzur, a former president of the association; and Farooq Ahmad, its secretary general, also spoke.