Export earnings to top $50bn in 2021: Tofail

Bangladesh’s export earnings will cross $50 billion in 2021, the golden jubilee of Liberation, said Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed.

He made the claim while speaking at the ‘International Women’s SME Expo, Bangladesh-2014’ at Chittagong’s Polo Ground on Saturday evening.

It was the eight of such fair organised by the Chittagong Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CWCCI).

“I was recently at the European Union. They said, there must be trade union at the EPZs. I said our Workers Welfare Association (WWA) will remain as it is. There are WWAs in 217 of the 400 institutions.”

Criticising the recent Jamaat-e-Islami shutdowns, he said, “Strikes were called for the sake of war criminals. But no one participated. Shops and factories were up and running … all except long-route buses.”

Bangladesh would try 1971 war criminals and there are conspiracies against that, said the Awami League presidium member.

“But our prime minister (Sheikh Hasina) is strong and determined. We will finish the trials. The prime minister’s name will be forever etched in history. There is no other leader in Bangladesh who can do this.”

He again blamed the BNP for not participating in the last general election held on Jan 5.

“It was a mistake on the part of the BNP to sit it out. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina invited them to talks many times. Now they’re talking about dialogue.”

Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed was present at the programme.

“The private sector is involved in 80 percent of all the country’s activities. So let us do our businesses.”

“You sometimes have to be an autocrat for boosting the economy. A government has to stay for 10-20 years for development to take place. Here they want to remove a government as soon as it is elected. This culture must end.”

FBCCI Vice-president Helal Uddin said, “There will be politics and political programmes, but not the ones that hurt businesses. I demand that strikes be banned.”