‘If our backs are pushed against the wall, we’ll find out our own ways’
Urging the country’s two top political leaders to reach a consensus peacefully, FBCCI President Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed on Tuesday said they will mount pressure on the politicians to resolve the political crisis politically and peacefully ensuring a sound business environment.
He said the business community does not want the emergence of any third force as the ‘experience’ of such force like the 1/11 one was bitter for the businesses.
“We want peace and want to do business peacefully. We don’t want any third force. We’ll put more pressures on the politicians,” Ahmed told a crowded press conference at the FBCCI conference room.
He said the business leaders would meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia to earnestly request them to reach a consensus through a peaceful dialogue. “We want to meet them today.”
The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) arranged the press conference to brief journalists about their stance over the country’s fast-deteriorating political situation.
Former FBCCI presidents Salman F Rahman, Yusuf Abdullah Harun, Mir Nasir Hossain, Annisul Huq, AK Azad, M Akram Hossain, BGMEA president M Atiqul Islam, BKMEA president AKM Selim Osman, MCCI president Rokia Afzal Rahman, DCCI President Sabur Khan, FBCCI vice president M Helal Uddin were, among others, present at the press conference.
Responding to a question, the FBCCI chief said, “If our backs are pushed against the wall, we’ll make a turnaround. We won’t sit idle. We’ll find out our own ways.”
He, however, said they are confident that there will be a solution through discussions following their initiative. “We’ll continue to press them for talks. They’ll listen to us. We’re confident because nobody will be able to live or move without us.”
Ahmed also said the ice is melting through the phone conversation between the two top leaders and it will lead to a solution.
Responding to another query, he said they do not have any formula on the polls-time government. “It’s the responsibility of the politicians to find out ways and reach to a solution. We want smooth and transparent handover of power.”
He said the business bodies have long been urging political parties to avert confrontation and find a solution through a peaceful dialogue and the economy is being hurt for the lack of political consensus.
“The shipment ahead of Christmas has got stuck due to hartal. Businesses are affected widely. There’s no alternative to a political compromise and consensus. Hartals are being enforced hurting the economy only for lack of a consensus,” he added.
Earlier, the FBCCI held an emergency board meeting that discussed the current political situation in the country.
On Monday evening, top business leaders, led by Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed, sat together and decided to talk in one voice under a common platform for the sake of the economy and political consensus.
Source: UNB Connect
“Islamic”Economic Forum’s capitalist sponsors
http://www.worldbulletin.org.29.10,2013. It has been revealed that the upcoming Islamic Economic Forum in London will be sponsored by Coca-Cola, Bloomberg and HSBC. The Islamic Economic Forum, which took place in Malaysia last year, is now on its way to London. However, in a rather controversial move, the forum is being sponsored by Coca-Cola. This has led many Muslims to lose their trust in the forum, in which the subject of halal food will be discussed.Running for the ninth year in a row, the forum which will be attended by officials from all over the world. London’s mayor Boris Johnson said that it was an honor for his city to host the forum, which is being held outside the Asian continent for the first time.As well as Coca-Cola, other capitalist organizations like Bloomberg and the HSBC bank are among the sponsors.