The country鈥檚 leading businesses on Thursday asked the interim government to ensure uninterrupted supply of gas and power to industries and to remain alert to factory unrest hampering production.
They also demanded a cut in duties on raw materials of readymade garment, pharmaceutical, leather and other industries during a meeting with finance and commerce adviser Salehuddin Ahmed at the secretariat.
Officials from the businesses including Apex Footwear Limited, Square Group, Incepta Pharmaceutical Limited, and Pran-RFL Group also demanded introduction of one-stop service to improve the business climate.
Giving a patient hearing to the business executives, the adviser said it was impossible to solve all problems by the interim government in three months.
On August 8, the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus assumed power after the fall of Awami League regime on August 5 in the face of a mass uprising.
The finance adviser said that today or tomorrow, a political government would assume power. Until then, the interim government will try their best to ensure welfare of the country.
Identifying sectors like food, energy, fertiliser and pesticides as top priority of the present government, the finance adviser assured businesses linked to the sectors of the present government鈥檚 cooperation.
The commerce ministry convened the meeting to review the overall trade and commerce situation facing supply interruptions following the regime change and old problems like the shortage of dollar, high inflation, and liquidity crisis in some banks left behind by the AL regime.聽聽聽
In his inaugural speech, the finance adviser said that the confidence of the business people was growing after initiatives taken by the interim government.
The forex reserve is increasing鈥�.the economy is staging a turnaround, said the adviser.
Square Group chief executive officer Tapan Chowdhury, Incepta Pharmaceuticals Limited chairman Abdul Muktadir, Apex Footwear Limited managing director Syed Nasim Monzur and Pran group director Uzma Chowdhury were among the businesses persons taking part in the review.
Syed Nasim Monzur demanded continuation of the fiscal policy and introduction of equal benefits for exporters of different sectors.
He urged the finance adviser to take initiatives for arranging fund from the Bangladesh Bank to fulfill liquidity shortage of the banks linked with many businesses.