Industry wants end to violence

Leading business bodies have appealed to political parties to shun violent agitation in the interest of business and industry.

They made the demand against the backdrop of unrest in the garment industry on Sunday afternoon.

Top leaders of 10 business bodies sat at a meeting at the BGMEA’s office in capital Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar, with BGMEA President Md Atiqul Islam in the chair.

FBCCI President Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed, ICCB President Mahbubur Rahman, DCCI President and BIA President Sheikh Kabir Hossain were present.

BTMA President Jahangir Alamin, BPGMEA President Md Jasim Uddin, BKMEA Vice-President Md Hatem attended the meeting.

Representatives of backward linkage industries like accessories, washing, dying covered vans related to readymade garment sector were also present.

Former BGMEA Presidents Anisur Rahman Sinha, Anwar-ul-Alam Chowdhury Parvez, Abdus Salam Murshedy, Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin were also there.

After the meeting, Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed said, “The readymade garment industry is the pride of Bangladesh.”

“This has brightened the image of country across the world. But now its good factories are being put on fire.”

“It is a conspiracy. We will not let it happen.”

The FBCCI president said, “Please, do your political activities politically. What is being done is not politics. We want security and right to work.”

Atiqul Islam said, “We have called everybody against the backdrop of the recent situation.”

“We have seen that our trade and commerce are being enormously affected though we are not linked to any political party.”

“Our identity is our business. We do not want to be victims of politics.”

“We demand today that two major political parties stop political violence. We want to do business uninterrupted and keep our supply chain intact. We want security.”

The BGMEA president said, “We have some more demands.”

One of the more important one was that the government initiate steps to re-run the Standard Group’s factory.”

“The FBCCI has to take initiatives so that banks, insurance and other companies come forward to help (Standard Group).”

“Side by side, those who are involved in the arson must be produced before the nation within seven days.”

On the other hand, BGMEA, BKMEA and BTMA have called an emergency meeting on Monday afternoon to find ways to overcome the crisis that has gripped the readymade garment industry.

The meeting will be held at BGMEA’s Nurul Kader Auditorium.

BGMEA chief Atiqul Islam has called on all members to attend the meeting.