Decides to meet PM, leader of the opposition

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry on Thursday decided to meet with prime minister and opposition leader with a demand for enacting a law banning general strikes for the sake of the country’s economic development and ensuring political stability.
At an emergency meeting of FBCCI board of directors organised to discuss a course of action on the ongoing political turmoil and the way to overcome the situation, the apex chamber also expressed concern over the disappearance of opposition leader Ilias Ali and urged the government to immediately find him out. 
‘The business community wants the parliament to pass a law prohibiting hartals for ever,’ FBCCI president AK Azad told reporters after the meeting at Federation Bhaban.
Businessmen will inform prime minister Sheikh Hasina and opposition leader Khaleda Zia about the country’s economic situation as political instability hampered economic growth and investment, he said.
He said that the FBCCI board placed some proposals including the demand for a law banning hartals, going to the court, meeting with professionals and silent procession against political turmoil.
‘We will soon sit with former presidents of FBCCI
to discuss what to do in this situation,’ he said.
FBCCI arranged meeting of its board of directors as a follow up of the meeting of former presidents of the organization.
The former chamber leaders recently met several times to discuss the current political impasse and find the way to overcome the situation.
Former presidents of FBCCI at their latest meeting held at Westin hotel, where the incumbent president was also present, decided to take up a joint move to face the political stalemate that is causing economic loss to the country.
‘The incumbent committee and former presidents of FBCCI will determine what to do and prepare an agenda for discussion with the prime minister and the opposition leader,’ FBCCI first vice-president Md. Jashim Uddin told New Age.
AK Azad said that business community had urged the political parties to refrain from ‘destructive activities’ like enforcing general strikes as such programmes caused terrible damage to the economy.
When his attention was drawn to general strikes to press for finding out Ilias Ali, he said, ‘We also urge the government to find out the missing Ilias Ali as it is the government’s responsibility to ensure security of life of the people. The government will have to find him out today or tomorrow.’
He also urged the opposition to look for alternative peaceful programmes like hunger strike and demonstrations as a means of protest instead of calling hartals.