Leaders of 73 business organisations yesterday urged the opposition parties to withdraw their hartal programme for smooth running of businesses.
Country's business community is worried about a hostile political situation emerging from some recent developments, they said in a joint statement led by AK Azad, president of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI).
The country achieved 6.7 percent economic growth in the 2010-11 fiscal year, with 40 percent export growth and mild growths in industrial and agricultural sectors, according to the statement.
These figures symbolise the strength of the economy and capability of the business community, noted the release.
"Hartals will slow down our economic progress. Our markets will shift to other politically stable countries. We have to avoid such programme at any cost," it insisted.
The business bodies also urged the leaders of all political parties to shun destructive political activities and settle all the disputed issues through negotiation in the greater interest of the country.
The main opposition BNP and its allies including Jamaat-e-Islami called a 48 hour-long hartal for 6:00am Wednesday up to 6:00am Friday protesting the scrapping of caretaker government system with the passage of the 15th amendment bill by parliament.
Source: The Daily Star
