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Published on December 2, 2013
The meeting took place amid the 18-Party alliance’s 72-hour blockade of roads, railways and waterways across Bangladesh which earlier in the day was extended by 59 more hours. The businesspersons, concerned by the current violent political unrest, met the Awami League President and also went to meet the BNP Chairperson at her Gulshan office afterwards. But they failed to meet her and left after submitting a memorandum.
Led by BGMEA President Atiqul Islam, the team saw Hasina with the call to protect the readymadegarment industry from the unrest. They also discussed the political situation. After the meeting, FBCCI President Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed told reporters, “The Prime Minister said she telephoned the Opposition Leader with a call for dialogue and had also offered the home ministry.” “But the Opposition, the Prime Minister said, did not respond to the initiative of the head of the government and that’s why the election will take place under the constitutional obligations,” Ahmed added.
After the nearly two-hour-long meeting with the Prime Minister, Atiqul Islam told reporters that they told her of their decision to shut down the factories due to the ongoing unrest. “But the Prime Minister said, ‘Don’t close the factories. You’ll be given highest security possible’,” he added. Islam said regarding the strikes and blockades, Hasina said she did not declare those programmes. “She asked to make the Opposition Leader understand.” The $20 billion readymade garment industry is at risk with the continuous nationwide shutdowns and blockades of the Opposition disrupting the transportation and export of the goods. The BGMEA President said, “Our back is against the wall.”
The business leaders also requested the Prime Minister to bring to justice the perpetrators who burned down the Standard Group garment factory complex in Gazipur and provide necessary aids to the company.
“The Prime Minister has assured us of ensuring safety of the industry. She has also said that plane and helicopter will also be provided to deliver shipments in time,” Salam Murshedi said
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