Businessmen said they are going through hardship as there is a chaos in the banking sector of the country and the law and order situation has not fully restored.
The business leaders made the remarks on Saturday at a trade conference titled “Private sector outlook: Expectations and Priorities” organized by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) at a hotel in the capital.
The leaders also demanded for the withdrawn of the false, fabricated and harassment cases against the businessmen. They said: “Now the ‘litigation business’ has begun. Cases are being filed against only if there is a difference of opinion with businessman.”
The conference, moderated by the DCCI president Ashraf Ahmed, was attended by chief guest Finance adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, and special guest Commerce adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin. BKMEA president Mohammad Hatem, BAB president Abdul Hai Sarkar, BTMA president Showkat Aziz Russell, FICCI president Zaved Akhtar, ABB president Selim RF Hussain, PRAN-RFL Group chairman and CEO Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, and Incepta Pharmaceuticals chairman and MD Abdul Muqtadir spoke as panelist at the conference.
Finance adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed said while addressing the conference: “The corruption in the economic sector during last 15 years is unimaginable and has spread to every nook and cranny of society. Money has been taken from bank deposits, an unprecedented example of corruption.”
He added that they are working to develop a system where no one will be able to launder money in future. “We are reforming banking sector and NBR,” he continued.
Commerce adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin said: “The government is working to improve the law and order situation in the country. The industry owners are moving away from the actual problem, resulting is a spread of movement.”
He said coordination between government and private sector is a must to restore law and order.
Recommending for a zero tolerance policy in restoring law and order situration, BKMEA president Mohammad Hatem said: “Now a business has been started- litigation business. If someone disagrees with a businessman or has a personal enmity, he files a case against the business owner.”
The business must be stopped, he said, adding: “Cases should be closed against them who were not involved in crime.”
Mr Hatem also said: “There is a chaos in the banking sector. We face various obstacles from the banking sector.”
“We do not get money if we export. Factory salaries are not being paid. There is a deposit of 6,000 crore taka of incentives in Bangladesh Bank. We are not getting that money,” he continued. The businessman also demanded an ‘end’ to trade body politics.
DCCI president Ashraf Ahmed said: “The policy interest rate and interest rates must be gradually reduced at the beginning of next year to control inflation.”
“It is necessary to increase the surveillance of law enforcement agencies to improve market management and prevent extortion in product management,” he said, adding that an uninterrupted gas and electricity supply is much needed for continuation of production in industries.
BTMA president Showkat Aziz Russell said: “Why should we subsidize those who are looting bank money? We are real businessmen. We are still hanging on to factories. Those who are looting are doing well. Those who are looting in this sector should be punished.”
He said, doing business in the country costs more than other countries.
PRAN-RFL Group chairman and CEO Ahsan Khan Chowdhury said: “Business will improve if the law and order situation in the country improves. If businessmen cannot open LCs, both production and employment chain will be disrupted.”
Incepta Pharmaceuticals chairman and MD Abdul Muqtadir said: “Instability in industries is not desirable.”
“There must be a specific roadmap to improve the law and order situation,” he said, adding: “We are being affected due to high import duty rates on various products and small businessmen are going through a hardship because of it.”
Translated by Bd-Pratidin English/ Afsar Munna
