Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed on Tuesday said no talk is possible with those who are involved in militancy, and termed the call by various quarters, including the civil society, for holding a dialogue as unrealistic.
He made the remarks while speaking at the closing ceremony of the 20th Dhaka International Trade Fair-2015 that ended on Tuesday. Export Promotion Bureau and Commerce Ministry jointly organised the fair that began on January 1.Tofail said those pressing for talks are actually trying to mingle demonstrators and anarchists in a single row.
He said, “The United States could not sit for talks with militant organisation Islamic State. Similarly, we can’t hold a dialogue with the militants”.
Taking about the DITF- 2015, the minister said this year’s fair has proved that no barriers, including petrol bomb attacks by hartal-blockaders, can halt the people’s advancement.
Tofail, also an advisory council member of the ruling Awami League, said the traders received export orders of Tk 95.05 crore this year which is up by Tk 15 crore than the last year’s.
He said Bangladesh will be a middle-income country by 2021 when the country will celebrate the golden jubilee of its independence. “Then, the country will be able to earn $50 billion only from the RMG sector alone.”
Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce Ministry Md Tajul Islam MP, senior secretary of the ministry Hedayetullah Al Mamun, Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) president Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed and Export Promotion Bureau vice-chairman Subhasis Basu also spoke at the programme. – Agencies
