No hartal please

Business bodies yesterday urged political leaders to refrain from calling hartals and to resolve issues through discussions in parliament.
Trade bodies and chamber leaders said these strikes only impede trade activities, damage economy of the country and create a panicky situation.
The opposition BNP has called a dawn-to-dusk countrywide hartal for March 29 protesting the government attempts to bar its leaders and activists from joining yesterday's grand rally in the capital.
“Businessmen do not want any strike or any political unrest in the country. We want the political parties to resolve all national issues through discussion in parliament,” said AK Azad, president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
The strike will hinder the flow of investment into the country, he said adding that Bangladesh needs foreign investment to create more employment.
Amjad Khan Chowdhury, president of Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry echoed Azad's remarks saying, “Political strikes definitely affect businesses.”
Businessmen cannot support hartal, he said.
“We do not want any strike as it affects businesses, although the ready-made garment sector is kept out of such programmes,” said Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association.
“Political strikes do not help in resolving an impasse. They need to hold dialogues,” he said.
“We hope that the government and the opposition will sit together to resolve problems through discussions in parliament. The opposition should not impose hartal as it affects businesses,” said AKM Salim Osman, president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association.