Poultry sector leaders on Wednesday said that the industry incurred losses of around Tk 4,000 crore due to the ongoing political unrest.
They said around 30 per cent of the poultry farms in the country had already been shut down due to the blockades and hartals enforced by the opposition political parties.
They made the statements at a briefing held by the Bangladesh Poultry Industries Coordination Committee, a joint body of six major poultry associations, at the National Press Club in the capital.
Leaders of the body urged the government and the opposition parties to come to an immediate solution to the current political stalemate to protect their industry by ensuring peaceful business environment.
BPICC convener Moshiur Rahman demanded rescheduling of bank loans, waving of bank interest and giving financial support to revive the closed farms and incentives and monetary stimulus package to recover their losses.
‘The government should provide special security for transportation of poultry goods and medicines essential for the poultry sector,’ he said.
FBCCI vice-president Helal Uddin said all the business sectors of the country were suffering due to the political unrest.
‘Political leaders should reach a consensus, otherwise businesses would have no option but to take streets
against the unrest,’ he said.
If the poultry sector crashes, poverty, unemployment and malnutrition will shoot up and the rural economy as well as the food security would face crucial challenge, BPICC leaders said.
They also urged the political parties to keep the vehicles carrying eggs, chicks, chicken and feed out of the purview of hartals and blockades.
Leaders of the association said that they would submit memorandum to the prime minister, the leader of the opposition and Jatiya Party chairman in this regard.
-With New Age input
