Bangladesh News

Leaders of the country’s business community yesterday suggested the caretaker government not to take initiatives that might make way for harassment of business people.

“Bad elements might exist in all sectors including among the business people, government officials, and politicians. But they should be brought to justice under existing laws of the land so that the measures cannot give rise to panic among the business people,” Mahbubur Rahman, president of the International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) said after a meeting with Finance and Commerce Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam in his Planning Commission office.

Mahbubur said if panic grips hold of the business people it will hamper normal economic activities in the country.

“Nobody likes an emergency situation forever. The emergency situation should go after the government carries out necessary reforms,” Annisul Huq, former president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said.

Representatives from leading business organisations and chambers also placed a set of suggestions for the betterment of business environment in the country.

The business leaders suggested a review of the proposal for empowering the Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) with the authority to arrest corruption suspects without a court order. The business leaders in their written suggestions said they are afraid that the proposed provision might turn into a tool of harassment and might turn out to be counter productive.

They suggested waiving import duties on some essential items like sugar, baby food, edible oil, lentil, onion, and ginger.

The business leaders placed specific suggestions for increasing power generation, and urged to privatise all services at Chittagong Port, and to keep the port in operation seven days a week, 16 hours a day to make its operations efficient and cost effective.

The business leaders also recommended bringing immediate reforms to the National Board of Revenue, and the Customs Department for effective mobilisation of revenue and creation of a taxpayer friendly environment.

They recommended continuation of the tax holiday facility and other incentives for growth and development of the industrial sector.

They strongly suggested that Bangladesh plays a more visible role in negotiations at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) as it is the leader of the least developed countries.

They also emphasised on providing better incentives to the expatriates to attract more remittance through legal channels.

The leaders lauded the government’s recent initiatives for bringing reforms to the Election Commission, Anti-corruption Commission, and the initiative to separate the judiciary from the executive branch of the government.

They suggested reconstituting and reforming the Public Service Commission too.

Commerce Secretary Feroz Ahmed, and NBR Chairman Badiur Rahman were present at the meeting among others from the government side.

Syed Manzur Elahi, former adviser to a caretaker government, Hossain Khaled, president of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Abdul Hai Sarker, president of Bangladesh Textile Mills Association, Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed, president of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and representatives from some other business organisations were also present.