3 reasons why business leaders met with Jamaat ameer
According to business leaders, they are actively engaging with all political parties in an effort to understand the current power dynamics and political landscape
Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) President Showkat Aziz Russell and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) Executive President Fazlee Shamim Ehsan have expressed concerns over the holding of the next national election amid the ongoing political unrest and economic crisis in the country.
In a bid to navigate the country's current political and economic turmoil, a delegation of business leaders met with Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on 14 September. The meeting came amid growing concerns within the business community over the uncertainty of the upcoming national election.
Russell and Ehsan revealed these details during a special programme of The Business Standard (TBS) called "Road to Election", hosted by TBS Executive Editor Shakhawat Liton.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
According to them, the business leaders' meeting with the Jamaat chief was not an isolated event. They are actively engaging with all political parties in an effort to understand the current power dynamics and political landscape.
They candidly stated that they are still unsure which party holds the most influence, as they noted that despite their efforts, they have been unable to secure a meeting with the Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.
Regarding the meeting, Fazlee Shamim Ehsan, also the president of Bangladesh Employers' Federation (BEF) explained that the business community feels "largely directionless" amid the current political climate.
"With no elected government in place, we're unsure which political party holds the power," he said.
Business leaders met with the Jamaat chief to discuss three key issues: the country's LDC graduation, the new labour law, and reforms of the National Bureue of Revenue (NBR), he stated.
The businessmen expressed concern to the Jamaat ameer that the country is not taking the right steps at the right time to transition from a least developed country (LDC) and believe the process needs to be postponed, Ehsan told TBS.
They also informed the Jamaat leader that the new labour law contains provisions not supported by any section of their society. Ehsan said that prominent labour leaders at the field-level are also opposing it. They have also been in talks with them about this issue.
Additionally, the BEF president told TBS that the talked about the sustainable reform of the NBR with the Jamaat ameer.
Another speaker of the Road to Election programme, Showkat Aziz Russell, highlighted political uncertainty as a major problem.
He said that a delayed election would not benefit the country and stressed the need for a quick, fair election and an elected government.
According to Russell, only an elected government is capable of steering the country's economy in the right direction.
Both business leaders and industrialists agree that without ensuring national stability, a fair election, and a pro-investment environment, both foreign and domestic investment will remain at risk.
On 14 September, a group of industry leaders met Jamaat-e-Ameer Shafiqur Rahman at his office in Bashundhara, Dhaka. According to a post on the party's official Facebook page, the discussion covered the potential of Bangladesh's industry and commerce, new investment opportunities, the business environment, and contemporary challenges, particularly the Labour Act 2025.
The industry owners had urged all political parties to help maintain stability in factories and extend overall cooperation to protect industrial growth.
