Business leaders demand a Tk 6,000cr rescue package to face challenges of global recession
Staff Correspondent
The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, on Sunday renewed her government’s pledge for ‘a special package’ to face the challenges in the wake of global recession in Bangladesh.
At a meeting with the leaders of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, she, however, suggested diversifications of products and markets to cope with the situation.
‘The government is closely watching the global market developments. We will provide all possible supports to continue exports and local productions,’ the FBCCI directors, who attended the meeting, quoted the PM as saying.
A 41-member FBCCI delegation, led by its president Annisul Huq, spent almost two hours at her office, discussing the latest economic situation at home and abroad.
Emerging out of the meeting, Annisul Huq said they had demanded a Tk 6,000-crore rescue package to support the recession-effected businesses.
The FBCCI demanded at least one year moratorium on payment of bank loans for the recession-hit industries, especially the spinning, garment and jute and leather manufacturing units.
The federation leaders suggested that the prime minister should take up immediate visits to some foreign countries to explore and expand job markets for the Bangladeshi workers.
The apex trade body wanted the government to prevent goons who disrupt tender process in different government procurements.
Improvement of energy supply situation by extraction of coals, formation of a national food council and reinstating Sunday as the single-day weekly holiday were among the FBCCI demands.
‘The PM has recognised the need for supporting businesses in this period and she has assured us of all possible helps from the government,’ Annis said.
The prime ministers’ press secretary, Abul kalam Azad, conveyed the PM’s gratitude to traders who had recently helped lowering the prices of certain essentials, including the edible oil.
The press secretary said the PM had asked the exporters to diversify markets and products and suggested manpower exporters to search for new labour markets.
Informing the business leaders of the government’s plan to establish special economic zones in the underdeveloped regions of the country, the PM also urged them to invest more in captive power generation.
While business leaders thanked the PM for securing a peaceful solution to BDR rebellion, the PM, according to the meeting sources, said, ‘Such incident really hurts trade and investment prospects.’
Courtesy of NewAge
