Businessmen in port city Chittagong today announced to take to the street against all kinds of political violence including blockade and strike.The announcement came in a view exchange meeting of the businessmen of city’s Khatungonj, one of the biggest and oldest wholesale markets in the country. Khatungaonj Trade and Industries Association (KTIA) arranged the view exchange meeting in the backdrop of ongoing blockade and hartal enforced by BNP-led 20 party alliance.Addressing the meeting, KTIA president Mahbubul Alam urged the government to exempt the businessmen from six months’ bank interest. Mahbubul Alam, also present of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCCI) said CCCI would send letters to the Bangladesh Bank governor and the Finance Minister to take effective steps in this regard.Addressing the meeting, CCCI director Abul Bashar Chowdhury said the businessmen are to incur a loss of additional 20 thousand dollars daily for being delayed in unloading goods from the ships at the port.“But the politicians do not pay heed to this information. The businessmen would take to the street with tougher programmes unless the political violence is stopped within shortest possible time”, he added.Ward councillor Nurul Hoque, director of the Chittagong Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CMCCI) Abdus Salam, CCCI director Kamal Mostafa Chowdhury, President of Chaktai Industry and Trades’ Association Jahangir Alam, General Secretary (GS) Mohammad Jamal Hossain, President of Chittagong Shop Owners’ Association Salamat Ali and GS of Terrybazar Businessmen Association Abdul Mannan, among others, addressed the meeting. -BSS, Chittagong
