Govt-opposition talks a must

Top business leaders yesterday urged the government to sit with the opposition parties to find a political solution to the current impasse that is undermining the country's achievements and denting future potential.
"The government should sit with the opposition parties to put an end to the ongoing political turmoil," said Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed, president of the Federation of Bang-ladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI).
"Both parties need to come to a solution. Otherwise, the political uncertainty, the street violence and the deadly strikes will not only discourage local investors, but also foreign investors," he told The Daily Star over the telephone.
The business leader said if the country could not bring in foreign investment the government would not be able to reach its target of a middle income nation by 2021.
His comments came after he led a high-level business delegation to meet the prime minister at the latter's office in Dhaka.
Ahmed said Sheikh Hasina listened to their concerns attentively.
"Although she did not offer an immediate solution, which we also did not expect, we hope her government would come up with a solution."
Ahmed said Hasina talked about the current situation in the garment sector, which is under global attention following two deadly fires over the last two months that killed at least 120 garment workers.
"The prime minister said her government was seriously looking into the compliance issue in the sector so that the industry flourished and reaped its full potential.
"She also said the subcontracting companies would also have to be compliant. Otherwise, this type of fire incidents would continue," said the FBCCI chief.