After Jamaat, business leaders now set to meet BNP
The meeting is reportedly being spearheaded by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association
Following a recent meeting with the Ameer-e-Jamaat-e-Islami, a delegation of business leaders is scheduled to meet with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today (21 September) at the party's office in Gulshan at around 5pm.
According to the business leaders, this meeting is part of a broader effort by the business community to engage with key political figures in the country.
They stated that the meeting is not political but is aimed at discussing crucial issues related to the country's economic and business environment. They plan to talk to the BNP leaders about ways to improve business operations, as well as the challenges posed by Bangladesh's LDC graduation and the ongoing reforms of the labour law.
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The meeting is reportedly being spearheaded by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).
However, BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu declined to comment when contacted, stating that any information would be officially communicated by the BNP.
Taskeen Ahmed, president of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), who is expected to be present at the meeting, told The Business Standard that the primary goal is to discuss how to move the country's business and commerce forward.
He confirmed that LDC graduation and labour law reforms would be on the agenda, but deferred to the BGMEA for further details, as they are leading the discussion.
While multiple attempts to reach at least six other business leaders for commentary were unsuccessful, two who answered the phone refused to speak on the matter.
The meeting with the BNP follows a similar visit by a group of industry leaders to the office of Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on 15 September, which generated significant public discussion.
According to a post on Jamaat's official Facebook page, the meeting with the business community covered the potential of Bangladesh's industry, new investment opportunities, the business environment, and challenges, particularly the Labour Act 2025.
During that meeting, business leaders, including Mahmud Hasan Khan of BGMEA and Mohammad Hatem of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), urged all political parties to help maintain stability in factories and extend overall cooperation to protect industrial growth.
They stated that the purpose of the meeting was not political, but rather to discuss the current state of business and trade, particularly on issues such as labour law reforms and challenges of the post-LDC transition period.
