Dr. Businessmen's meeting with Yunus, demand for security in industry

In the context of the shutdown of production in hundreds of factories due to labor protests, the leading businessmen of the country to take necessary steps to ensure the safety of industrial establishments, the chief advisor of the interim government. Muhammad demanded from Yunus.

A delegation of businessmen made this demand in a meeting with the Prime Minister on Tuesday (September 3). The business leaders brought to the notice of the Chief Adviser the recent incidents of fire and vandalism in various industrial establishments. The six-member business delegation led by Mahbubur Rahman included Tapan Chowdhury, managing director of Square Pharmaceuticals, AK Azad and Mir Nasir Hossain, former presidents of FBCCI, BGMEA president Khandaker Rafiqul Islam, and Nasser Ejaz Bijay, former president of FICCI, an association of foreign businessmen.

Mahbubur Rahman, President of International Chamber of Commerce Bangladesh (ICCB), spoke to the journalists after the meeting at the State Guest House Jamuna. He said that the chief adviser has assured that the government will take necessary steps to ensure the safety of the industry.

According to the sources of the meeting, the businessmen told the chief adviser that the businessmen will resolve the demands through discussion in the factories where the workers are protesting on various demands. However, foreign workers are protesting and vandalizing the factory gate with various demands. The outsiders are threatening the factory workers and trying to force them into the streets. If this continues, the factory owners will be forced to announce lay-offs. Then the situation will become complicated.

It is known that for several days, the workers of the garment industry have protested for various demands including increase in wages, attendance bonus. At the same time, laid-off workers and job aspirants also blocked the road demanding job equality for men and women. At this time, some factories were vandalized. This resulted in unrest in Savar-Ashulia and Gazipur industrial areas. This instability has also spread to various industries including medicine, food. In this situation yesterday, besides ensuring the security of industrial factories, the Home Affairs Adviser instructed to start a joint operation against those fueling the unrest. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury. Leaders of BGMEA and BKMEA, two organizations of garment industry owners, held a meeting with the advisor yesterday (September 2) and demanded to take strong steps for the safety of the industry. Then came the instructions for a joint operation.

Tapan Chowdhury commented that everyone wants a change but what is going on at present is not what anyone wants and said, 'Recently there is a kind of instability in the industries of the country. Starting from the pharmaceutical industry, this unrest has reached textile and clothing factories. We have raised the issues with the Chief Counsel. He (Chief Adviser) has assured to take action in this regard.'

Mir Nasir Hossain said, 'Yesterday when more than 100 factories were closed, we urgently requested a meeting with the chief advisor. In the meeting, we asked the chief adviser for the safety of the factories. The chief adviser told us that maximum security will be ensured by the government. The Chief Adviser also called for strengthening the operations of the joint forces. He (Chief Adviser) has also sought help from traders.'

Bangladesh /KH