Speak against street movements hurting economy, CA Special Envoy Lutfey urges businessmen
The businessmen need to speak up against the recent street movements and similar activities,” he said
The country's businessmen have to speak against the recent street movements for the sake of the economy, said Lutfey Siddiqi, the chief adviser's special envoy for international affairs, today (24 May).
"Businessmen have immense power, which they should use while staying above politics. They need to use their power for the sake of the economy. The businessmen need to speak up against the recent street movements and similar activities," he said.
Lutfey made the remarks while addressing a seminar, titled "Export-Import Policies in Bangladesh: Requirements and Challenges Upon LDC Graduation", organised by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industries (DCCI) in the capital.
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He said, "None of the parties in the country currently has the values needed for the growth of the economy. Streets in Dhaka are remaining blocked, with some saying their college needs to be turned into a university, while some other person is demanding that he should be made mayor."
"People do not have the value of time, as the economic losses that happen during road blockades in Dhaka city for one day amount to the total income of 50 lakh people daily," said Lutfey.
He continued, "The country will not move forward if such losses continue to happen due to such street movements on minor issues. People can block the roads on big issues, but not on the small ones.
"If the situation persists, the country will face problems during LDC graduation. That's why the businessmen should raise their voices now."
"There is only one roadmap that is visible in the country right now — election between December 2025 to June 2026. The ministries must go through structural changes. Although Bangladesh is on the right track for its LDC graduation, the pace is slow. People know what to do, but they don't know how to do it. We need research for that purpose," Lutfey added.
The event was presided over by DCCI President Taskeen Ahmed, where South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM) Executive Director Selim Raihan presented the keynote paper.
