Noting that Bangladesh industry would reach new heights, chief adviser professor Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday said that his government was committed to protecting the factories from violence and attacks.
鈥極ur first responsibility is to provide protection to the industry,鈥� said CA Yunus when a business delegation, led by president of the international chamber of commerce, Bangladesh Mahbubur Rahman met him at state guesthouse Jamuna.
The chief adviser assured the business leaders of all possible support to take Bangladesh鈥檚 industrial growth to a new height.
鈥榃e want to take the industry to a new level,鈥� he told a business delegation during the courtesy meeting.
Yunus said that the student-people revolution had ushered in a new era of hope in the country, and the interim government was committed to carrying out much needed reforms in industry, finance, and manufacturing.
The business leaders raised the issue of recent unrest in the garment and pharmaceutical sectors, saying that they suspected the factories were vandalised at the instigation of outsiders, including groups, living outside the country, according to the chief adviser鈥檚 press wing.
They demanded stepped-up security in the industrial areas, saying that the image of the country would be dented if safety and security were not ensured in the factories.
Yunus also urged the industry leaders to undertake labour reforms in an effort to win more orders from top global brands and retailers.
鈥榃e鈥檝e got a big opportunity to carry out vital reforms. We need to upgrade our labour laws to ILO standards,鈥� he said.
CA Yunus said that he had spoken to top business CEOs from across the globe, and they were keenly interested in investing in Bangladesh and placing more orders to the country鈥檚 manufacturers.
Tapan Chowdhury, managing director of Square Pharmaceuticals, AK Azad, former FBCCI president, Mir Nasir Hossain, a former FBCCI president, Khondker Rafiqul Islam, president of the BGMEA, and Naser Ezaz Bijoy, managing director of Standard Chartered Bangladesh, attended the meeting.