Bangladesh News

Business leaders yesterday told the government that they fear the current political crisis will give rise to political instability jeopardising the possibility of holding a credible general election.

They also demanded a return to democracy through credible elections.

The government, in turn, assured the business leaders that there is no reason to have doubts regarding the upcoming elections or the ongoing politico-electoral dialogues, but said political parties also have a responsibility to break the stalemate, for moving forward towards the elections.

In the first meeting of a series of dialogues between the government and citizen groups, the business leaders also offered to work as mediators between the government and political parties, to break the deadlock.

In response to a number of business leaders suggestion that the poll should be held regardless of the success or failure of the ongoing dialogues, Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed assured them that the general election will be held by December 31 at any cost.

“We are concerned about the current political crisis because we fear that political stability and conditions for credible elections could be jeopardised,” said Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Annisul Huq at a post dialogue joint news briefing at the Chief Adviser’s Office.

“We want a return of a democratically elected government through meaningful elections,” said Annis.

Meanwhile, at an earlier news briefing, Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Anwar-ul Chowdhury Parvez said, “If the next election is not held, we are likely to lose a large chunk of export orders.”

Commerce Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman said the government is trying its hardest to bring all parties to the dialogues, but it is also up to the political parties to do their part.

He said there is no room for doubts regarding the elections, but the government will also try to address economic concerns simultaneously.

The dialogue was attended by at least 300 business leaders from across the country, representing a cross-section of business groups, who met the chief adviser at the International Conference Centre in the capital.

Annis said business leaders do want elections, but they do not want to go back to a chaotic and confrontational political climate.

“We are not here to represent the government or the political parties, but we are businessmen, we are here to protect the economy and the people,” Annis said at the briefing, adding that release of detained Awami League and BNP chiefs was not discussed.

“We don’t want politicians to only speak about elections, but also about what they can and want to do in the country,” Annis added.

The business leaders also urged the government not to hold the election ‘for the sake of election’, but to hold one that will be meaningful and ensure a smooth transition of power.

They also discussed political reforms stressing the need for it, especially the issues of disclosure of election spending, ending the practice of political parties having students and workers wings, intra-party reforms, and creation of a bicameral parliament.

Moreover, business leaders urged the government to look into the legal aspects of banning strikes and hartals.

They also put out a call to foreign missions not to publicly state their opinions because the practice ‘violates the sovereignty of Bangladesh’.