Shun hartal

The business community yesterday urged opposition parties to refrain from frequent shutdowns that bring the country to a standstill hurting the economy.
“The worst sufferer of the current violent politics is the economy,” said a joint statement signed by presidents of 27 trade bodies.
On the eve of a three-day countrywide shutdown called by Jamaat-e-Islami and Bangladesh Nationalist Party, the business leaders rushed into a meeting chaired by Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed, president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
“The law and order situation is deteriorating by the day, which is hurting the image of the country,” the statement says.
“If the political unrest continues, the inflow of foreign direct investment and employment will cruelly be compromised.”
The shutdown will severely hamper transportation of goods in all land and sea ports, much to the frustration of exporters, the business leaders said.
“The export of garment items is rebounding now after months. Plus, orders are shifting from China to Bangladesh. Now is our time, so we do not want anymore hartals,” said Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).
“The economy has been progressing despite the country's limitations, global financial meltdown and stiff competition globally. To retain the momentum, political tolerance is imperative,” the business leaders said in the joint statement.
The business community also said the political parties should consult them for an amiable solution.
“We are asking the businessmen to think of an alternative to hartal. The hartals will destroy the economy,” Ahmed told The Daily Star after the meeting.
AK Azad, the immediate past president of the FBCCI, told The Daily Star that they will observe the political situation for a few days.
“If it further deteriorates we will sit together soon to take a decision as our backs are against the wall now,” Azad said.
In another joint statement, the BGMEA and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) said many garment factories will face discounts, order cancellation, deferred payments due to not being able to make shipments on time.
The garment sector is challenged by the double-dip recession in the European Union, the troubled US economy, weak infrastructure, gas and power crises, higher production costs, price reduction of exportable items, appreciation of the taka against the dollar and threat of cancellation of the GSP.
Terming the frequent hartal programme suicidal, the leaders of the trade bodies said many industries will face closure if the political shutdown continues for long.
“Hartals during such a critical time will destroy the country's main foreign currency-earning sector.”
“As a result, many employees will lose their jobs, which will affect the socio-economic balance of the society,” the statement said, while urging the political leaders to resolve the crisis through discussion.
At a media briefing, Baharine Sultan Bahar, president of Jago Bangladesh Garment Sramik Federation, a platform for garment workers, said the garment sector will face severe challenges because of the political unrest.
“I fear that the international buyers will shift their orders to other countries if the political situation does not improve immediately,” Bahar said.
The businesses also expressed sympathy over the death of nearly 50 people, including police personnel, in the countrywide violence over the last few days.