Hartal is one of the major impediments to discourage foreign direct investments (FDI) in Bangladesh.

This view was expressed by Takao Kobayashi, general manager of Marubini Corporation, while speaking at a meeting of the Japan-Bangladesh Business Forum 2005 at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel yesterday.

The country requires urgent and sincere efforts to overcome hartal, he said, adding it needs big efforts to maintain political stability. "The recent series bombing has dented the country's image," he observed.

President of Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JBCCI) Matiur Rahman presided over the meeting.

Kobayashi said there is no doubt that the business climate has improved in some cases. But more problems need to be addressed to bring about significant improvement in the flow of FDI and the Japanese investment particular.

JBCCI Vice-president Hideo Uneo and Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Dhaka Vice-president Akihiko Misima also spoke at the function.