Azad reiterates to identify dishonest businessmen; suggests not to issue trade license in Dhaka to decentralize business

By AKM Moinuddin

Dhaka, Aug 25 (UNB) – FBCCI President AK Azad on Wednesday reiterated that they would identify the dishonest businessmen who are tarnishing the image of the community of three crore businesspeople across the country.
“Such dishonest businessmen are few in number… investigation is on and we want to unmask them before the society as they’re tarnishing the image of the entire business community,” he said seeking government cooperation in this regard.
The apex trade body chief made the remarks at a meeting with Industries Minister Dilip Barua at the conference room of the ministry today.
Members of the newly elected board of directors of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), BSTI Director General AK Fazlul Ahad, BSCIC chairman Fakhrul Islam, additional secretary at the Industries Ministry ABM Khorshed Alam were present in the meeting.
AK Azad urged the government not to issue any new trade license in Dhaka in a bid to decentralize business and decrease pressure on the capital as the city is already overcrowded.
“I urge the government to take steps for setting up special economic zones outside Dhaka with the required facilities so that businesspeople can invest there instead of rushing into capital city,” he said.
About the upcoming Industrial Policy, the FBCCI president said the government should make the policy into a law so that its practical application is ensured. “Our experiences say it’s urgent to convert the policy into an Act.”
He said they would place a set of recommendations before the government after the Eid-ul-Fitr to bring in wholesale changes to the entire trading system under a specific policy to avert price manipulation and artificial shortages of essentials in the market apart from ensuring transparency and accountability.
Azad urged the Industries Minister to take immediate steps for improving the standard of BSTI certification so that exporters can export their products to the neighboring countries especially India without any difficulty.
He appreciated the government effort for keeping the sugar price stable from the beginning of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.
Concluding the discussion, Industries Minister Dilip Barua said the government is very cooperative towards the businesspeople. “It’s not our job to do business… government’s job is to provide support to private entrepreneurs.”
He said the Industries Ministry is helpful for industrialization in the country by formulating a pragmatic policy and developing infrastructure and other facilities. “We’re giving priority to accelerating industrialization under private sector instead of setting up new industries in the public sector.”
About the standard of BSTI, Barua said neighboring India has a psychological problem with Bangladesh as it does not want to recognize the BSTI certification. “We’re working on the improvement of BSTI certification so that it gets global acceptability.”
Earlier, FBCCI director M Jalal Uddin came down heavily on the BSTI authorities and strongly criticized the way in which the mobile courts are now operating.
FBCCI Vice President Mostafa Azad Chowdhury Babu, and directors Shamshul Haque, Harun-ur-Rashid, MA Momen, Abu Alam Chowdhury, Abdul Moktadir, Monowara Hakim Ali, Momtaj Uddin and Abdul Haque also took part in the discussion.
END/UNB/AKM/