Focus on business, not politics

Latifur Rahman

Riding the political gravy train has unfortunately become a short cut to success for many. But for the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dhaka, that was out of the question.

The 110-year-old trade organisation has successfully been able to distance itself from politics and it is all down to its leaders' commitment to delivering what they are mandated to do, which is to promote business at home and abroad.

“The chamber has kept itself away from politics by choice and conscience. It has never allowed political differences of its board members to come to disrupt its activities,” said Latifur Rahman, a former president of MCCI.

Rahman, who is also the chairman and chief executive officer of Transcom Group, was elected for seven terms to become the longest serving president of MCCI. He led the organisation in 1993, 1994, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

“We don't get involved in politics because it is not our cup of tea. We, as leaders of the MCCI, only work to promote trade and industries.”

“Leadership at the MCCI changes but its course remains the same -- this is the uniqueness of the chamber. The former leaders of the MCCI have established the tradition,” he said, adding that it was and, still is, hard to say no to any political pressure. “But we have so far successfully managed to do it as its top leaders have always absorbed the pressure."

The chamber, however, always denounces vandalism, hartals and violence in its strongest words as they hurt businesses in particular and the economy in general.

The MCCI has enjoyed a high degree of acceptance and reliability from all governments, which further validates its neutral stance in the political arena.

It has a close consultative relationship with successive governments and always provides inputs in formulating business and trade-related policies such as export and import and also in case of budget. During consultations with the government the chamber has never been self-centred and always takes the bigger picture of the economy into consideration.

“We always work for the betterment of trade and commerce and the whole economy and never take the narrow view,” said Rahman, who in 2012 won the Oslo Business for Peace Award, the highest distinction given to a businessperson for outstanding accomplishments in the area of ethical business.

He also touched upon the issue of socially responsible businesses and said the members of the MCCI have historically been conscious about their role in the society in which they operate.

“Business leaders and industrialists have always kept in mind that they are not excluded from the community. It is true that we can't solve all the problems, but we will have to do something for the society within our limited scope.”

Rahman credited the chamber's competent and professional secretariat for the consistency in its practices and values in spite of leadership changeover.

The regular staff conducts day-to-day affairs, leaving the president and other board members to be more involved in policy issues.

The leading entrepreneur particularly highlighted the contributions of CK Hyder, a former secretary general of the chamber who helped in bringing the chamber from Narayanganj to the capital and gave the chamber today's shape.

The MCCI has never had to deal with any legal procedures over elections in its long history, a rarity for chambers in Bangladesh.

This feature has made the chamber exceptional in Bangladesh, where polls are fraught with legal cases or court injunctions due to disagreement among contending parties or candidates. 

“I must give this credit to the members of the chamber for maintaining the strong system and tradition, which helps peers respect each other. I hope this will continue into the future,” said Rahman, who first got involved with the MCCI as a young entrepreneur in the late sixties.

Every leader has his or her own leadership style, ideas and approach, but when they are elected as office bearers at the MCCI they are moulded into the strong value system of the organisation, he said.

During his tenure as the MCCI president, his leadership style, he said, was to listen to the board members first when discussing an issue and then take an agreed decision.

This inclusive participation of the board members in decision-making makes the chamber unique, Rahman said.

He also praised the chamber's research capacity, which, he says, has been the MCCI's strength. Its reports are objective and frequently quoted.

“Governments looked at the MCCI for right inputs, not coloured ones. We are happy that we have been able to paint the real picture.”

Rahman also recalled the activities of the MCCI after the Liberation War, which the chamber supported in every possible way.

He said there is a sea-change in the size and activities of the economy between now and then.

“We were a nascent and small organisation at that time. Our economy was also a tiny little drop in the ocean, and businesses were completely different with the economy was socialist to large extent. Now, the size, scale and opportunities have grown tremendously.”

He went on to recommend addressing the problems of traffic jams and inadequate infrastructure to help the economy tap its true potential.

Rahman's words of advice for the future members and leaders of the MCCI are very basic: they should do what they are supposed to do for the sake of businesses and industries, while taking into account the whole economy.

“Obviously, they will grow their businesses and expand them. At the same time, they also need to forge a harmonious relationship with their workers and employees. It can only come if the entrepreneurs treat them fairly. Otherwise, they will not be able to build an enterprise.”

He said if the workers and employees are given wages and benefits that allow them to live a decent life with their families, the well-being would spread.

“Then it will be the biggest contribution to the society from the businesses. It enriches society. They need to do what is socially responsible. This is what the MCCI has been doing for years.”