Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- Finance Minister AMA Muhith has assured business leaders of ports and banks remaining open on Saturday, a public holiday, to help cover the losses of frequent shutdowns across the country.
The finance minister spoke at a meeting with the business leaders at his office in Dhaka on Tuesday, said Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed, president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), who led the business team to the meeting, according to reports.
Mr. Muhith will meet officials of Bangladesh Bank, National Board of Revenue (NBR), ports and related ministries today to take decisions.
Currently, the customs house at Chittagong port remains open on Saturday for export purposes, but from now, it will also work on import-related issues.
The minister assured the businessmen of withdrawing the 48-hour cut-off time requirement for exports to help cover the time loss from the strikes.
A cut-off time is a period before which the export goods have to reach a port for timely shipment. At Chittagong port, the cut-off time is 48 hours.
BBN/SSR/AD-27Mar13-11:36 am (BST)
