They made the statement during a courtesy call on the Prime Minister. They requested her to remove ‘political differences’ as two camps were divided over the caretaker government dispute.
In line with the amended constitution the ruling Awami League wants to hold next elections under a political government, but the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its allies demand restoration of the caretaker government system.
The system was scrapped in 2011 by the government following a Supreme Court order, which ruled that the provision was contradictory to the Constitution.
The FBCCI officials said that political uncertainty could keep investors at bay while the nation’s image was threatened abroad.
They also urged the government to rein in inflation to keep the government’s success intact in the last year of its five-year term.
FBCCI President Kazi Akrum Uddin Ahmed led the team to the Prime Minister’s Office.
The apex body’s former presidents Salman F Rahman and AK Azad were also part of the team.
The FBCCI board of directors was elected on Nov 26 last year and the Kazi Akram-led new panel took office three days later.
In his written speech, Akram said: “The political instability in the country will mostly affect [Bangladesh’s] economy. Such [political] programmes result in serious degradation of law and order situation and tarnish the country’s image.”
He feared the investors will turn away from the country if the ‘unstable situation’ continued. “The investors want a stable environment. No-one will come and invest if [authorities] fail to provide.
They all look like kangaroos. Smiling and buttressing her honor. Getting picked by her honor and getting elected. FBCCI has become like AL Presidium. It is totally autocratic and selected by the ruling PM. When you see their smiles, you see money going into their pockets and pockets of the party stalwarts.