Chamber and trade body leaders see a serious setback in the economy for frequent shutdowns hampering business activities.
They fear Bangladesh will lose competitiveness in international trade as hartal cuts production.
AK Azad, president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said businessmen are perturbed by the spectre of confrontational politics.
His comment underlines fears among the business community that Bangladesh will lose the export growth pace because of hartal. The country posted more than 40 percent export growth in July-May, buoyed by ready-made garment sector.
Urging the opposition parties to withdraw hartal, the business community suggested disputed issues be resolved in parliament.
The main opposition BNP and its allies including Jamaat-e-Islami called a 48-hour hartal from 6:00am today, protesting the repeal of caretaker government system.
"Hartal will not only hamper the local investment, but also foreign direct investment," he said.
He said businessmen are already in a lot of troubles like higher bank interest rate and inadequate supply of gas and power. Hartal will add woes to the economy.
The economy will suffer if businessmen cannot generate employment due to destructive activities, Azad added.
Amjad Khan Chowdhury, president of Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said hartal will push the country into anarchy.
"Of course, hartal will have a detrimental effect on our economy. We lose crores of taka in a hartal day, as we cannot sell our products. Hartal hampers both tax collection and export," he said.
Asif Ibrahim, president of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said now the economy is in a take-off situation. Hartal is not desirable at this moment. "We must grab more foreign investment through creating a better business environment."
Murshed Murad Ibrahim, president of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry said businessmen face troubles for stoppage of delivery in the Chittagong Port during the hartal.
"We have to count a huge demurrage per day for overstaying of ships at port during hartal," he added.
Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, in a statement said international buyers might shift to other destinations for frequent hartal.
The risks of discount, cancellation, air freight and deferred payment compound in the garment business for hartal, he said. International buyers are delaying in placing orders for frequent hartal.
AKM Salim Osman, president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said workers will face the trouble for hartal as the garment factory owners will not be able to pay them properly due to loss in production for hartal. "The owners will face the delayed shipment problem."
Source : The Daily Star
