Business leaders at a roundtable on Saturday called upon the interim government for restoring fully the law and order especially in the industrial belts, lowering interest rates and carrying out necessary reforms for ensuring smooth operations and sustainability of the industries.
They made the call at a roundtable on ‘Current State of the Economy and Outlook of Bangladesh’ organized by Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) at the DCCI auditorium.
At the roundtable, Mir Nasir Hossain, former president of FBCCI, said the recent labour unrest has shattered the country’s image in the global market.
He said the real effective rate of interest is too high in Bangladesh and it often hampers the entrepreneurs to compete with the international market.
Nasir said, “Moreover, customs houses should be automated. Although the initiative has been taken few years back, but it is yet to see the light.”
Syed Nasim Manzur, President of Leather Goods and Footwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association, said the businessmen now feel unsecured due to labour unrest and vandalism.
He said, “Declining the purchase capacity of people triggered by high inflation of money led to reduce public consumption of food and services remarkably.”
Mohammad Hatem, President of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), said a good understanding and relation between the owners, workers and labour leaders can mitigate any unrest as well as violence in the factories.
Dr. M. Masrur Reaz, Chairman & CEO, Policy Exchange Bangladesh said, the government could not take the right policy in right time which caused the macro-economic crisis in recent past.
