Leading business executives requested Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday to send additional army troops if necessary to maintain industry operations in the face of worker protests in Gazipur and Savar.
Production at factories has been suffering since the beginning of the week due to workers’ unrest.
Industrial police said that at least 50 clothing firms, primarily in Ashulia, were shuttered yesterday due to protests. On the outskirts of the capital, about 100 factories—mostly those in the apparel and pharmaceutical industries—remained shuttered on Monday.
Six business leaders met with the Chief Adviser of the Interim Government on the demand of guaranteeing security in industrial factories amid the workers’ movement with demands in various industrial areas.
International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Bangladesh President Mahbubur Rahman led the delegation of businessmen. He was accompanied by FBCCI former President AK Azad, FBCCI former President Mir Nasir Hossain, BGMEA President Khondkar Rafiqul Islam, Square Pharmaceuticals Managing Director Tapan Chowdhury and Standard Chartered Bangladesh Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Nasser Ejaz Vijay.
Prof. Yunus declared that the Government would assist the industries during the meeting with executives from the business community at the state guesthouse Jamuna.
According to him, the country is experiencing a newfound sense of hope as a result of the student-people movement, and the interim administration is dedicated to implementing the essential reforms in the manufacturing, banking, and industrial sectors.
“Our first duty is to protect the industry,” said Muhammad Yunus. He called business leaders to push for labor reforms that would create opportunities to secure more mandates from the world’s biggest brands and retailers.
“We have a great opportunity to reform in critical sectors. We need to bring our labor laws up to ILO standards,” he said.
Yunus highlighted his discussions with global business leaders, stating that they are eager to invest in Bangladesh and increase orders to manufacturers.
Following the meeting, Mahbubur Rahman informed the media that the Chief Advisor had given his word that the government would take the required actions to guarantee the industry’s safety.
Afterward, a news release issued by the Chief Adviser’s press office outlined several of the meeting’s topics.
