Awa mi League Chief Sheikh Hastna yesterday (Saturday) said her party wants to attain self-sufficiency In economy to meet people s basic needs by removing poverty and creating employment opportunity, reports UNB.

"The alm of our economic policy is to ensure wellbeing of the vast majority of people", she told a meeting of representatives of the country's leading Industrial and business houses at her Minto Road official residence in the afternoon.

The meeting was organised to exchange opinion with the industrial and trading community on the eve of updating Awami League's economic policy to suit the socio-economic condition of the people and the changed global economic

scenario

"The nation is facing a serious economic crisis" Hasina said, adding that Awami League as a responsible mass organisation Is committed to play an appropriate role in improving the economic condition of the people.

She said Bangabandhu Sheikh MuJIbur Rahman had taken pragmatic initiatives so that the private sector could play an important role in economic activities along side nationalisation of the heavy industrial units.

Bangabandhu was killed when overall growth of development and the GDP were increasing. Hasina said adding that his killing destabilised the political situation and Impeded the development process.

"Economic progress is not possible without political stability". said Hasina. the I.eader of Opposition In Parliament. Being in the opposition we could establish the parliamentary democracy to ensure political stability.

Awami I.eague sources said the party Is poised to switch over to market economy by liberalising Its economic policy.

A party press release said representatives of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCD, Bangladesh Chamber of Industries, Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Foreign Investors Chamber and Dhaka Stock Exchange attended the meeting.

FBCCI Directors Mashtur Rahman and Mohammad Yunus. Bangladesh Chamber of Industries President Abu Subld All Tfpu and Vice-President Sharif M Afzal, Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Mahbubur Rahman and former President AS Mahmood, Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Manzur Morshed Khan and General Secretary CK Hyder. Foreign Investors’ Chamber President Syed Humayun Kabir, and Dhaka Stock Exchange Chairman Aminul Islam and Councilor Khurshid Alam took part in the discussion.

Earlier, Sheikh Haslna gave her policy statement on the party's economic policy while party’s Economic and Planning Affairs Secretary Initiated the discussion with an welcome address.

Awaml League leaders Abdus Samad Azad, Abdul Mannan, Zillur Rahman, Sajcda Chowdhury. Abdur Razzak. Amir Hossain Amu, Abdul Jalil, Tofacl Ahmed, Mohammad Nasim, Matla Chowdhury, Abdul Momln, Prof Abu Sayeed, Abdul Kader Siddiqui, Momtaj Hossain, Col (Rtd) Shawkat All, Dr Mtzanul Haq, Mesbahuddin Khan. Abul llasnat Abdullah, Rashed Mosharraf. Abul Hasan Chowdhury and Abul Kalam Azad were among others present.