Leaders of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) yesterday called upon the National Committee on Protection of Oil, Gas and Mineral Resources and Power and Ports to withdraw the declared half-day hartal on Monday considering the significance of the month of Ramzan.

The hartal would hamper the business activities, Eid shopping of the people and cause sufferings to the homebound passengers, they noted. They were of the view that problems could be resolved through dialogue rather than hartal. Meanwhile the leaders of Dhaka Metropolitan Shop Owner's Association (DMSOA) yesterday also called for the withdrawal of Monday's hartal saying it will only accentuate public sufferings during the month of Ramzan.

"We believe the committee will withdraw its hartal programme realising the importance of the holy month of Ramzan. More ever people will remain busy with their Ramzan shopping and preparations for going homes," Md Helal Uddin, president of Dhaka Metropolitan Shop Owner's Association old journalists at a press briefing at the Grand Plaza Shopping Arcade at Moghbazar in the city yesterday.

Helal also condemned police attack on Dr Anu Mohammad and others while they were protesting against the government's decision to lease out three offshore blocks to foreign companies. Reazul Islam Montu, senior vice-president, Abul Khair, vice-president, Masud Qader Mona, secretary general, joint secretaries general Nurul Islam, Enayet Kabir Chanchal, Jahirul Islam and Mohammad Ali and SM Rizvi Talal, president of Gulshan DCC market, among others, attended the programme.

-New Nation

FBCCI urges oil, gas body to call off hartal

The Indepedent: The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) has urged the National Committee for Protection of Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports to withdraw the half-day Hartal on Monday with a view to ensuring smooth business activities ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.

FBCCI thinks that the Hartal will seriously hinder day-to-day businesses and create great disadvantage for general people as well as for businessmen, cause difficulties for the home bound people. It will also create hurdle for the businessmen to pay salaries and bonus to the workers, says an FBCCI statement signed by its acting president Abul Kashem. Country's apex trade body FBCCI is always on the side of proper investigation, extraction of the natural resources, the statement said urging all to unite for the smooth operation of national economy and overall business activities.

FBCCI urges withdrawal of Monday's strike

bdnews: FBCCI has requested the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports to withdraw its announced half day strike due to be held on Monday. The Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industries, in a statement on Saturday, said the reasons cited for the strike could be resolved through discussions and does not require a strike.

The apex business federation said the strike would hamper public life as well as business, and urged its withdrawal to allow normal activities to take place during Ramadan ahead of Eid. FBCCI claims that it is on the side of ensuring the highest level of transparency and neutralilty in awarding off-shore exploration deals to foreign companies. It hoped that to maintain a stable economic and safeguard the business activities, agreement would be reached over this national issue.