Sylhet traders call off sit-in, strike

14 May 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent, Sylhet

Business leaders called off their today's sit-in programme in front of the Court Point and tomorrow's strike after Sylhet Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) decided not to hold trade fair on Government Alia Madrasa ground in the city. Sylhet Zila Bayboshayee Oikya Kalyan Parishad took the decision at a meeting at Modhuban market on Thursday night with its President Sheikh Mokon Miah in the chair. Office-bearers of different markets and shopping mall committees of the city attended the meeting. Administrator of SCCI Faruque Mahmud Chowdhury in a statement said the chamber had decided to shift the venue and they would not go against the sentiment of the businesspeople in Sylhet. Earlier on May 9, the businessmen gave a 48-hour ultimatum to shift the venue. They kept their shutters down till 12:00noon and formed a human chain to press home their demand. Sources said the SCCI was preparing to hold a month-long trade fair on the madrasa ground within a few weeks. The authorities first decided to hold the fair at Uposhahar field from May 7. But it was changed and a decision was taken to arrange the fair on the madrasa ground. In the past too, the city's businessmen raised protests against holding any trade fair at the same place. The authorities in the face of protest were compelled to shift the fair venue to the MC College field a few years ago.