About 3.5 crore people are expected to participate in countrywide rallies to be organised by FBCCI on February 8, demanding an end to the current political impasse that is weighing on business.

"This time we will hold the rallies with national flags from Teknaf to Tentulia for a peaceful solution to the political turmoil," Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed, president of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, toldThe Daily Star.

Businessmen will gather in front of the FBCCI office in Dhaka and all district chambers from 12pm to 12:15pm, said Helal Uddin, vice president of FBCCI.

The national anthem will be played during the rallies and the businessmen will send separate memoranda to the president, the prime minister and the BNP chairperson after the event, FBCCI said in a statement.

The decision came at an emergency board meeting of the apex trade body at its office yesterday with Ahmed in the chair.

The businesspeople are taking to the streets as they cannot afford counting the losses anymore, he said.

"People are victims of arson attacks. The arsonists are also attacking the goods trucks plying between Dhaka and Chittagong. Businessmen should come forward to protest the violence."

After the event, FBCCI will take decision whether they will mediate between the government and BNP leaders for holding dialogues to solve the crisis. In December 2013, businessmen with the same demand also held countrywide rallies led by the FBCCI with white flags.

But, FBCCI failed to hold dialogues between the two political parties then due to non-cooperation from the political leaders.

On January 28, the textile and garment makers organised a rally in front of the BGMEA office in Dhaka for bringing political stability.

Hundreds of apparel and textile makers took part in the event led by Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association and handed over separate memoranda to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. The country suffered a loss of Tk 36,445.76 crore in the first 16 days of the countrywide blockade in January, according to Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, another leading trade body.