Editorial
Hartal hits economy hard
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The economy, it seems, is the number one target of political agitators as they wreak their vengeance on it at the first opportunity. During the four days' non-stop hartal from July 15 to 18, the Jaamaat-Shibir activists poured out their anger on the economy causing immense damage to it as well as to public life.
Even sanctity of the holy Ramadan, the month of self-restraint and moderation, could not deter them.
In the latest bout of hartals, small retail businesses took the worst battering. It is worthwhile to note that many of these small traders flock to the capital from rural areas, and look forward to having a brisk business through their pre-Eid Ramadan sales. But hartals have dealt a heavy blow to their hopes. Hardest hit among them were retailers in the clothing sector.
Not surprisingly, prices of iftar ingredients also skyrocketed in the kitchen markets as their supply were disrupted due to stalled movement of transports.
We have for the umpteen times mentioned in this column what a day's hartal costs the economy. Assuming a loss of $200 million, or Tk.1,600 crore a day, the country has lost Tk.6,400 crore as a result of the last week's hartals alone.
The hartal-happy quarters seem to have no twinge of guilt for the harm they have been systematically doing to the economy.
They must come to their senses, and find an alternative to this cheap but vicious tool of political protest.
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