Prof Yunus assures business leaders of all possible support

Bangladesh interim government's Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus yesterday assured business leaders of all possible support to take Bangladesh's industrial growth to a new height.

"We want to take the industry to a new level," the Chief Adviser told a business delegation that paid him a courtesy call at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka.

President of the International Chamber of Commerce, Bangladesh, Mahbubur Rahman, led the business delegation.

The Chief Adviser said the student-people revolution has ushered in a new era of hope in the country, and the Interim Government is 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 they suspect the factories were vandalised at the instigation of outsiders, including groups living outside the country.

They demanded stepped-up security in the industrial areas, saying the image of the country will be dented if safety and security are not ensured in the factories.

Prof Yunus told the business delegation that his government is committed to protecting the factories from violence and attacks. "Our responsibility is to provide protection to the industry," he said.

He also urged the industry leaders to undertake labour reforms in an effort to win more orders from top global brands and retailers.

"We've got a big opportunity to carry out vital reforms. We need to upgrade our labour laws to ILO standards," he said.

The Chief Adviser said he has spoken to top business CEOs from across the globe, and they were keen to invest in Bangladesh and place more orders to the country's 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, the managing director of Standard Chartered Bangladesh, attended the meeting.