Editorial
Hartal taking a severe toll of the economy
Business leaders for immediate halt to the trend
Hartals are falling into a pattern, something we had dreaded in the past, but the nightmares seems to be looming. Apprehensions are rife that our leaders are pushing us down the slippery slope to a tunnel without any light like it happened at the fag end of 2006.
Public opinion has palpably swung for an immediate stoppage to all the utterly counter-productive and lose-lose options that the opposition political parties are taking. Simultaneously, lack of initiative from the government side to engage the opposition in a talking mode coupled with provocation and intimidation from the ruling party have only exacerbated the situation.
Business and economy being the most hurt, FBCCI has put out a clarion call to find an alternative to hartal. They are elected on party lines and should, therefore, have their way with political party leaders. They should press this into service now.
A deteriorating law and order scenario, transport blockade and dysfunctional ports are surefire impediments to industrial productivity, backward and forward linkages, import of raw materials and export of finished goods.
The aggravation in security situation and political rejection of the primacy of the economy as well as making the people suffer, are tainting country's image to the outside world. If we don't pull back from the extremist political programmes, we would not only dampen local enterprise but also lose out on international business.
Unfortunately, all this is happening at a time when quite a few developed and emerging economies are showing interest in relocating their investments to Bangladesh for some obvious advantages. If the opportunities bypass us in preference to some other neighbouring countries that would deal a severe blow to our otherwise brightening economic prospects.
The consequences of any more hartal are as clear as daylight. We would, therefore, urge the government side and the opposition to see that they are only a phone call away to engage each other in a discussion to resolve their differences on the caretaker issue. Since both sides have signaled there is an element of flexibility in approaching the interim caretaker arrangement issue, what are they are waiting for? It is time they stop counting costs and see the dividends from a little bit of conciliatory sharing of gestures.
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