The government is seeking the cooperation of the business sector in helping it restore the country’s image internationally, which has been severely dented by the quota reform protests that descended into rioting bordering on anarchy, and eventually a curfew that has stretched past 10 days now.
Cabinet members and advisors who actually made their names as businessmen presented the government's vision made their opinions known during a views-exchange meeting with business leaders at the office of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) in the capital's Agargaon on Sunday.
They are the Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid, and State Minister for Commerce Ahasanul Islam Titu.
State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak and FBCCI President Mahbubul Alam along with top business leaders from various sectors were present on the occasion.
At the beginning of the exchange meeting, Prime Minister's advisor Salman F. Rahman at the beginning of the event said, "We have come to a critical situation. We have to admit that there is an image crisis after this incident. It must be repaired. This work is not possible without the cooperation of businessmen.”
State Minister for Commerce Ahasanul Islam Titu also said that the country is facing an image crisis in the ongoing situation.
“Now we have to find a way out of it. Blaming someone will not solve the problem. For this, "a long-term solution should be sought,” he pointed out.
State Minister for Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said that the country is currently going through an "unwanted event".
He said, “The issue has hurt and pained everyone. It has spread not only within the country but also outside to the world. It has become a problem for all of us now. We are not denying it. There needs to be an open discussion about what has gone wrong in the current situation and how quickly we can return to normalcy.”
Businessmen spoke at the meeting about various sufferings due to internet service being stopped or limited for a long time in the country. Apart from this, they pointed out problems related to container congestion at ports, paying extra charges for delays in clearance of import-export goods, increased interest rate, the steep rate of the dollar, customs clearance and taxes at an extra rate, lack of uninterrupted electricity, and gas, etc.
FBCCI President Mahbubul Alam said that broadband internet should be made fully operational using optimum bandwidth as soon as possible.
“What is currently in operation (internet) is not up to the desired level. As a result, many business activities are delayed. Apart from this, it is necessary to see how the affected industries can be compensated in the long term,” he opined.
He also expressed concern over the devaluation of the taka, which created a fluctuation in the price of goods.