Call off hartal

Business leaders yesterday urged the opposition alliance to withdraw the May 2 hartal to help the nation fast recover from the Savar tragedy and for the sake of economy.
“The rescue operations at the collapsed Rana Plaza are still continuing. At least on humanitarian grounds, BNP should withdraw the hartal,” the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry said in a statement also signed by 42 other chambers and trade bodies.
The economy has already been battered by the series of hartals in the recent past and the unstable political situation.
“Imposing more hartals now will further damage the economy, particularly the country's export-oriented garment, textile and spinning sectors. As a result, the banks, insurance, financial institutions and transportation sector will also have to suffer,” the statement said.
Earlier, the business community made several attempts to hold meetings with leaders of the opposition to convince them to refrain from disruptive political programmes, but no response was received.
The opposition parties have observed 22 hartals since January 31.