Left-oriented Ganasanghati Andolan candidate Zonayed Saki, Mahi B Chowdhury, AL-blessed mayoral contender Annisul Huq and BNP-backed mayoral candidate Tabith Awal pose for photographs at a views-exchange meeting with mayoral and councillor candidates of DNCC in the city on Sunday.
Four major trade bodies, including apex trade body FBCCI, on Sunday extended their support to Annisul Huq, the Awami League-backed mayoral aspirant for Dhaka North City Corporation election, reports UNB. Their overwhelming support for Huq came at a views-exchange programme organised by BGMEA, BKMEA and BTMA at Mohakhali in the city. Huq, also the former FBCCI and BGMEA president, was present at the programme. All the leaders and members of the four bodies expressed their supports by raising hands for the business leader at the event. President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President M Atiqul Islam, former BGMEA president Anwar-ul-Alam Chowdhury Parvez, Abdus Salam Murshedy, BGMEA vice president SM Mannan (Kochi), former FBCCI first vice president M Jasim Uddin, BKMEA first vice president AH Aslam Sunny, current and former leaders, members of BGMEA, BKMEA BTMA and FBCCI were present. View exchange on garment industry’s prospect, problems and future initiative turned into an election campaign as almost every speaker talked about election issues extending their support and vowed to work for Huq in upcoming city election, billed for April 28. BGMEA president M Atiqul Islam said they have division and rivals in the BGMEA but in the grater interest of the business community and business itself and in the grater interest of BGMEA all are united. Describing Huq as a successful businessman, Atiqul Islam said they all are familiar with the ability and leadership of Huq. “He had proved it before so many times. He loves to take challenges, and we’re all with him,” he added. Kazi Akram said, “If we can elect him, we’ll have an opportunity to bargain with the government and fulfill the business community’s demand whatever we need.” The mayoral candidate – Huq – said it is quite normal that there will be differences of opinion. “Yet it’s a happy day for me and for the business community as finally we managed to get united today.” He also thanked the business leaders for extending their support for him. “We businessmen are of the same family members,” he said pledging to build a safe, dynamic, clean, green and world-class city with the help of the business community. Meawhile, business leaders here on Sunday urged political parties to refrain from enforcing destructive political programmes which will ruin the garment industry’s potential. They came up with the call from a views-exchange meeting jointly organised by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA). Chaired by BGMEA president M Atiqul Islam, Dhaka North City Corporation mayoral candidate and former BGMEA and FBCCI president Annisul Huq , FBCCI president Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed, and leaders of BKMEA and BTMA were present at the meeting. Observing that many factories have turned ‘sick’ and the readymade garment (RMG) and textiles manufacturers of the country are facing losses due to recent hartals and blockades, Atiqul Islam said, “We beg to our political parties not to engage in such political programmes which create more new sick industries every year.” Former BGMEA president Abdul Matlub Ahmad said the industry suffered a huge loss of 2.1 billion over the last three months. “We want a court order to prevent political parties from enforcing destructive programmes. If such violence continues we have to shut down our businesses,” he bemoaned.
Source: https://www.newstoday.com.bd/index.php?option=details&news_id=2408340&date=2015-04-13
