Bida, police meeting: Foreign investors assured of full safety, dedicated contact lines

The Bangladesh Police on Monday (21 April) announced that it would offer foreign investors direct access to its dedicated emergency contact line, enabling companies to report any incidents and receive immediate support.

The announcement came from the office of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam and Bida Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun after a meeting with officials of six foreign companies whose establishments were vandalised during recent protests over Gaza attacks.

The meeting brought together executives from major companies, including Nestle Bangladesh, Coca-Cola Bangladesh Beverages, Unilever Bangladesh, Bata Shoe Co Bangladesh, Reckitt Benckiser Bangladesh, Pepsico, and Jubilant Food Works Bangladesh, among others, reads a government release.

The incidents of vandalism occurred on 7-8 April in several cities in the country. 

Police said at least 140 people have been arrested over the attacks. Nearly a dozen cases were also filed over the incidents.

"The presence of the IGP, senior police officials, and our Bida team under one roof with business leaders was not only timely but unprecedented," said Bid chief Ashik.

"This wasn't just a gesture — it was a statement. It shows that Bangladesh is serious about standing by its investors, especially when challenges arise," he said.

"The companies we sat with directly support the livelihood of thousands of employees and their families. We respect the right to protest, but destroying the institutions that provide jobs, stability, and growth is not the answer," he added.

The Bida chief also commended the police for "their swift support and their commitment to decisive action against those responsible for the violence."

In the meeting, participating companies shared first-hand accounts of vandalism, losses, and operational breakdowns. 

According to sources, representatives of the companies highlighted the unwanted problems, including operational disruptions they have been facing.

Appreciating the government's seriousness, one of them told The Business Standard after the meeting, "If consumers boycott any company's product, the government cannot help and companies know how to win back consumers' hearts."

"But, vandalising, threatening company people, distributors or forcing retailers not to sell a company's product is an offence that the government promised to handle with zero tolerance," he added.

In response, the IGP's office announced that it would offer dedicated emergency contact line access to affected businesses. Senior police officers said the emergency contact line would enable the companies "to report incidents and receive immediate support."

IGP Baharul Alam assured business leaders of full cooperation from the country's law enforcement agencies. 

"We are not here just to respond. We are here to build confidence and ensure that these disruptions do not repeat," he said.

The engagement resulted in a set of jointly developed preventive action plans, including new security protocols, rapid response units, and enhanced crisis communication channels, according to the government release.

These measures, co-created by the Bida, the police, and business associations, aim to foster long-term trust and resilience in Bangladesh's investment ecosystem.

"This dialogue isn't about reaction—it's about prevention," said the Bida executive chairman. 

"And more importantly, it reflects the government's promise: to walk with our investors, not just during booms, but also during turbulence," said Ashik.

Corporate representatives thanked both the BIDA and the Bangladesh Police for their responsiveness and expressed renewed confidence in continuing their operations and future expansion plans in Bangladesh.

This initiative is part of BIDA's broader mission to ensure Bangladesh remains a safe, sustainable, and investor-friendly destination aligned with the priorities of the interim government, said the release.