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BCI calls for aiding local industries

Star Business Report
The Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI) yesterday sought government assistance for die industries aligned to domestic demand in an effort to cut import dependency.
As the government focused heavily on the export-oriented industries in the face of the global economic meltdown, it almost sidelined the local industries, hardly realising that the local industries were also affected by the meltdown and started retrenching workers, BCI leaders said at a discussion.
The BCI organised the discussion on the "Labour Market Problems in Bangladeshi Industries in the Economic Downturn and Prospects," at its Motijheel office in Dhaka.
Labour Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain who addressed the discussion as chief guest promised to aid the local industries.
BCI President Shahedul Islam said around 25,000 workers had been retrenched in the jute industry in the last four months. The industries that meet local demand, in addition to the export-oriented garments, leather, and fisheries sectors, will also be affected unless appropriate steps are taken.
A shortage of power has been a serious problem for the industries and this increases their cost of production, Islam said. He urged the government to reduce the price of diesel to Tk 20 a litre and the price of furnace oil to Tk 10 per litre, as many industries use these fuels to generate electricity due to a lack of power.
He also demanded the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission cancels the rule of charging Tk 5 lakh to renew the license fee to set up captive power plants exceeding one megawatt from the industries.
BCI Director Zahid Malek MP said industries in the Export Processing Zones have been enjoying more facilities in terms of power from the government than those industries that meet local demand.
“There has to be a balanced approach. It is not enough to support only the export-oriented industries
because the local industries also serve people," said Malek, also a director of BCI.
Former BCI Director Golam Dastagir MP said the duties on the raw materials for the industries must be brought down.
BCI started a media campaign titled "Amar Ponno Amar Desh” (my products my country) to encourage countrymen to consume local products.
In response to their demands, the labour minister said he would discuss the issues in the cabinet to address the matter in the next budget.
“The Awami League government is industries and labour-friendly,” Hossain said.
“The government is working seriously to generate more power. In two years, you will see a radical change in the power sector."
The government is also going ahead with the plan to set up an Expatriates' Welfare Bank to make sure that overseas jobseekers do not take loans at a high rate of interest.
Beximco Group Chairman Salman F Rahman also spoke.