Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) has expressed grave concern over frequent observance of strike, generally known as hartal, by the opposition parties.
It also urged the political parties to withdraw hartal and find out an alternative and non-destructive means of political action to help keep the wheels of the economy moving, the DCCI said in a statement.
"The country had experienced a serious economic loss due to three days' consecutive dawn to dusk hartals last week. And call for another two days' dawn-to-dusk hartal will affect the country's economy adversely," it said.
The chamber feels that such hartal will again force economic activities to a halt and add to the economic loss and sufferings of the business community. The country's exports and imports are hampered as transportation is hindered and consignments are stuck at the port.
"Coupled with inadequate power and gas supply and weak infrastructure, such frequent hartals aggravate the already burdened position of the business community as they are struggling hard for the survival in a globalised competitive business environment," it mentioned.
The chamber also mentioned that frequent hartals cause price spiral in the retail market and discourage foreign investment, particularly at a time when Bangladesh is set to take advantage of the China plus One benefits and double it within the next four years.
BBN/SSR/AD-30Apr12-1:00 pm (BST)
