The country’s top business leaders held a closed-door meeting on Monday night to discuss the latest political developments and come up with future strategy.
The leaders would issue a press statement welcoming the telephonic conversation between the two political chiefs of the country, according to sources. They would also urge the two political parties to sit for a dialogue and solve the ongoing political stalemate for ensuring the smooth functioning of business and economic activities.
“We mainly discussed the prevailing political crisis and how the business community could encourage the two top political leaders to solve the crisis for the greater good of the country’s economy,” said Abdul Awal Mintoo, a former president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), following the meeting.
“We are not in favour of any particular political party; rather, we are against hartal as it destroys the economy,” he also said.
“We would support none but urge both the leaders to stop damaging agitation programmes in future,” he further said, adding that the details of the meeting would be given in the briefing.
When asked about their meeting agenda, another former president of FBCCI Anisul Haq said, “We discussed the subject of Tuesday’s press briefing.”
The statement is likely to be issued in a press briefing on Tuesday, sources said.
At least five former presidents of FBCCI and incumbent president Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed were present at the meeting, which was held at Hotel West Inn in Gulshan. The attending FBCCI former presidents were Salman F Rahman, Abdul Awal Mintoo, Mir Nasir Hossain, AK Azad, Anisul Huq.
Bangladesh Garments Manufactures & Exporters Association (BGMEA) president Atiqul Islam, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BKMEA) president Selim Osman, Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) president Sabur Khan and FBCCI vice-president Helal Uddin also attended the meeting.
-With The Independent input
