'Feeling insecure': Businessmen call for improving law and order, controlling labour unrest
'I feel concerned about entering my own factory wondering if I will be able to get out alive,” Pran-RFL Group chairman said
Top businessmen of the country have called on the government to improve the law and order situation in the country and bring incidents of labour unrest under control.
"There are 1.5 lakh people who currently work in various entities of the Pran Group. Now, I feel concerned about entering my own factory wondering if I will be able to get out alive," Pran-RFL Group Chairman Ahsan Khan Chowdhury said at a seminar organised by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) today (5 October).
"The law and order situation will have to be improved at any cost. The industrial police must be made effective. If the law and order situation improves, everything will be fine. Additionally, those taking advantage of the situation should be taught a lesson."
Former Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Syed Nasim Manzur said, "We businessmen are feeling very insecure.
"Businessmen are worried about what will happen tomorrow, and what type of phone calls they will get. Only worker discontent did not take place in Ashulia and Gazipur. There were other issues as well. The government now needs to gain the trust of businessmen to ensure that it is safe to do business in Bangladesh."
To improve the situation, he recommended improving the law and order situation, making the local administration more effective, showing zero tolerance towards those behind the violence, and implementing separate arrangements for the rescue of those in distress.
The businessmen made the calls at the seminar, titled "Current State of the Economy and Outlook of Bangladesh", at the DCCI office in the capital's Motijheel.
"A country cannot survive solely on remittances and money from donor groups. Export earnings and the domestic market must be kept active. Just because a handful of businessmen are bad, the entire business community should not suffer. Businessmen also love their country. We are here, in our country, and we are not going anywhere," said Nasim.
Addressing the seminar, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association President Mohammad Hatem also emphasised improving the law and order situation to bring the labour unrest under control and restore businesses' confidence.
Former FBCCI president Mir Nasir Hossain Nasir also called for immediate measures to improve the law and order situation.
DCCI President Ashraf Ahmed, who presided over the event, said the overall ongoing tensions, including those regarding the law and order situation, administrative activities, bank loan interest rates and foreign exchange crisis, will cause the economy to shrink.
"Jobs will not be created and inflation will not decrease…That's why a business-friendly environment is needed where investments can be made and businesses can operate. The government will primarily have to make this happen. At the same time, the responsibilities that businesses have must be fulfilled by the businessmen as well."