Country's business leaders opine that protecting export-oriented industries, ensuring sound law and order situation and energy security are key issues to be addressed preferentially to regain momentum in the national economy.
They suggest to disburse soft loans and adjust power price to the international level to retain competitiveness of the textile and garment sectors.
Syed Moazzam Hossain, President of the Australia Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ABCCI), told Bangladesh Post that Bangladesh's export sector suffered a loss to the tune of 2.00 billion US dollar during recent political unrest.
He said that Bangladesh’s export order is likely to suffer as the Bangladesh witnessed political turmoil that saw killing of some 800 persons including cops and loss of properties during student movement and topple of former dictator Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Syed Moazzam Hossain is the Managing Director of SMH Engineering Limited and SMH New Generation Apparels Ltd, SMH AGRO Industries Ltd, and Chairman of Lama Rubber Industries Secretary General of ABCCI Jobayer Ahmed said that power price should be adjusted to the international level as the existing power price is beyond market price. Meanwhile, Adviser to the interim government on the Ministries of Finance and Commerce Dr Salehuddin Ahmed has asked the National Board of Revenue (NBR) for proper verification of the necessary documents and expedite the export-import operations as well.
Dr Salehuddin mentioned that the NBR is an important organization for the government and they have a big role to flourish industries and trade in the country.
“Their job is to collect revenues, the collection has to be the maximum without giving any trouble to the taxpayers, but they have to follow the rules and regulations properly,” he said. Former FBCCI president AK Azad said that they have requested the Adviser for taking steps to delay the process for LDC graduation by three more years to 2029 instead of the 2026 period.
He said the business leaders also demanded for bringing necessary reforms in the trade bodies and associations as early as possible and thus giving elections to those to elect the new leadership.
Azad, also a renowned industrialist and businessman, said that they have raised the issue of current law and order situation before the Finance Adviser side by side easing up congestions at the airports and seaports to ensure smooth shipment of goods.
He said if these negative sides are not addressed, they might have to think for shifting their businesses to other countries.
So, the main focus of the business community was to improve the law and order situation, sample clearance and easing congestion at the Chattogram Port.
Referring to the probable withdrawal of EDF facility from the central bank and cash incentives as well as scarcity of US dollars, Azad said if these things are not addressed, there would be a negative impact on the country’s business operations.
