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They were addressing a discussion meeting on the current state of economy and politics organised by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) at its conference room.
FBCCI president AK Azad presided over the meeting.
A number of business personalities who attended the meeting urged the country's apex trade body to suggest the government to enact a law banning observance of hartal in the country for the interest of the economy.
The leading businesses including presidents of International Chamber of Commerce, Bangladesh (ICCB,B), Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI) and other leading chambers, chiefs of two state-owned banks and private bankers addressed the meeting.
A number of former FBCCI presidents and different association leaders also participated the programme.
The leading business personalities said the FBCCI should form a committee to meet the prime minister and the opposition leader to convince them how to shun destructive political programme.
Addressing the function, FBCCI president AK Azad said: "We, representing more than 30 million business people, would not sit idle in the face of any destructive political programme that threatens the economy and public life."
"The FBCCI board will sit together after December 2 (upon completion of a business tour of Japan), where we'll discuss the suggestions that have been noted down from today's discussion," Azad said.
Mahbubur Rahman, president of the ICC,B, said: "We've been protesting the hartal programmes for long as it affects the economy largely."
Mr Mahbub, also a former FBCCI president viewed that political leaders often break their promises.
ICCB,B chief said: "The culture of hartal will come to an end once we go in a body against it."
The country's leading business persons discussed nearly three hours on the hartal programme at the meeting.
MA Kasem, founding chairman of South East Bank said: "We might organise dialogue on the issue to avert the future hartal programmes."
Mr Kasem, also a former FBCCI president, said the country's economy is moving fast over the past few months saying: "Our economy will stand on strong footing if the trend remains uninterrupted for few years more."
Former FBCCI president Yousuf Abdullah Harun urged the opposition to go to parliament to press home their demands.
"There is no serious issue which warrants destructive street politics like hartal," Mr Harun added.
Mr Harun said: "It'll be difficult for us to accept hartal if you don't go to parliament."
Akram Hossain, another former FBCCI chief said: "We might announce programmes in a bid to stop hartal in future."
Annisul Huq, president of SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry said: "We were always against hartal, we're against hartal and our stand will remain against hartal."
Mr Annis, however, urged the opposition leader, "Display your grievances in another form, not calling hartal."
Abul Kashem Khan, DCCI president said: "Nations like Vietnam and Cambodia are deriving their gains from our hartal programme."
Mr Kashem said the investors and buyers divert their attention to alternative countries when hartal or any other destructive programme is enforced.
He said the country's economy might achieve eight or nine per cent growth by simply ensuring free movement on Dhaka-Chittagong Highway, hassle-free Chittagong port and power.
"We're just sitting in the middle of two crocodiles…. We must come forward for an end to hartal programmes."
Nazrul Islam Majumdar, president of Bankers Association of Bangladesh (BAB) said: "We must avoid hartal as it might invite 1/11 again in the country."
He said all business persons suffered during 1/11 changeover.
Mr Majumdar who is also chairman of Exim Bank said parliament will take time to enact a law banning the hartal.
He suggested the formation of a committee to meet the opposition leader and prime minister to stop the hartal in future.
Chairman of Rupali Bank Ahmed al Kabir said: "We need to create a social movement against the hartal."
Khondoker Bazlul Hoque, chairman of state-owned Agrani Bank said: "We should observe all-out programmes."
Mr Bazlul who is also a professor of University of Dhaka said: "Hartal is not prohibited in a democratic country, but it is not also widely accepted."
Manzurul Hoque, senior vice president of Narayanganj Chamber of Commerce and Industry said: "We might take decision that we will not exercise our franchise during the general elections."
He said more than 30 million business peoples might demonstrate their grievances in such an innovative way.
Amir Hossain Khan, president of Bangladesh Dokan Malik Samity said: "We'll open shops after 2:0 pm during the hartal as a move to protest the hartal."
Besides, presidents of Cox's Bazar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Gazipur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association vice president Habibur Rahman, BAIRA president Abul Bashar, among others, addressed the meeting.
-FE, Thu, 25/11/2010
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