& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

Peace, please

Businesses up with white flags

Staff Correspondent
Traders hold a rally with white flags in Motijheel yesterday calling for an end to political violence. photo: sk enamul haq
In a desperate move to stay afloat, the entire business community yesterday held white-flag rallies across the country demanding a peaceful end to the ongoing political crisis and the return of trade-friendly environment.
In the capital, leaders of different trade bodies chanted "peace, peace and peace" hoisting their white flags in a huge rally in front of the Federation of the Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) office.
Thousands of business people streamed into the financial district of Motijheel, coming in white-flag processions from parts of the city. The gathering stretched from Bangladesh Bank to Dainik Bangla intersection, with some crowds spilling into nearby roads.
Outside Dhaka, businessmen gathered in front of the district chambers offices in all 63 EROM PAGE 1
districts from 11:30am to 12:15pm.
The FBCCI called the countrywide programme to protest against the current political impasse and the mounting losses due to continuous agitation by the opposition alliance.
Business leaders had already met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia urging them to hold talks with a view to resolving the stalemate, but to no avail.
"We gather here today at a critical moment of the nation. We want peace. We want a business-friendly environment," FBCCI President Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed told the rally in Dhaka.
"We denounce the current political situation, as many people have been burnt to death. Today we hoist white flags, but if necessary, the business community will go for tougher programmes," he said.
Akram urged the government to write off bad loans of businessmen created due to the political deadlock.
"We welcome the dialogues between the leaders of the two political parties [Awami League and BNP| initiated by some foreign diplomats. If they [politicians] want they can hold a peaceful election," he said.
The FBCCI president also demanded immediate release of former president of the apex trade body Abdul Awal Mintoo, who had been arrested on November 8.
"If the politicians fail, we should be given the leadership. Today's programme is the first showdown. We will have to take to the streets if you [politicians] do not succeed in solving the problems," said former FBCCI president Salman F Rahman.
I Ie said, "This kind of politics must stop. I am asking you [businessmen] to remain alert as businesses are in deep trouble."
Another former FBCCI president Annisul Huq said the Bangladesh now was a different Bangladesh that people were not supposed to come across with.
I Ie said a country of huge potential had reached the verge of destruction due to unhealthy politics.
"Dead bodies are piling up everywhere. Is Bangladesh a country like Somalia, Syria, Iraq or Libya? The political leaders have turned the country into a land of corpses," said Annisul.
He urged political leaders to rise above their personal interest and agree to their demand of restoring peace.
FBGGI Former president AK Azad said, "You |politicians] do not feed us or clothe us, but are killing us."
He said if the situation did not improve soon they would take their demands directly to the prime minister and the leader of the opposition.
Atiqul Islam, president of apparel makers' platform Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), said the backbone of the garment sector had already been broken.
"We do not want unhealthy politics. The industries are becoming sick due to this unhealthy politics," said Atiqul.
Like Dhaka, thousands of businessmen gathered in rallies in Ghittagong, Sylhet, Narayanganj, Bagerhat, Sherpur, Satkhira, Gopalganj, Pirojpur and Narsingdi, report our district correspondents.
In Chittagong city, business owners urged all political parties to bring peace for the greater good of the country's economy.
They said businesses are on the brink of devastation due to political violence.
The traders formed a human chain carrying white flags and held a rally in front of Ghittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) office in Agrabad area.
CCCI President Mahbubul Alam asked political leaders of all parties to solve their issues through discussion, not through violence. "Politics will survive if the economy survives," he said.
Nasir Uddin Chowdhury, first vice president of BGMEA, Sagir Ahmed, general secretary of Khatunganj Trade and Industries Association, Syed Jamal Ahmed, vice president of CCCI, and leaders of various trade and business associations were also present at the programme.