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1 day’s hartal in Chittagong inflicts loss of Tk2800m in economy

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February 11, 2001 

Chittagong-- (UNB) – Business community in the port city has expressed deep concern as it faces today (Sunday) another dawn-to-dusk hartal, tenth in last five weeks.

Nine previous hartals, including five nationwide and four localized, have inflicted heavy damage to the country’s frail economy and life of the people.

The four-party opposition alliance is poised to enforce daylong hartal today to protest the arrest of city BNP secretary Abu Sufian, who was sent to jail Thursday on order of one month’s detention under the Special Powers Act.

Convenor of 4-Party Sangram Parishad and BNP leader Mir Nasir Uddin said they were forced to call hartals as a mark of protest to repression on their activists, many of whom were thrown into jail by implicating in false cases.

The ruling Awami League is dismayed by frequent hartal in Chittagong enforced by the opposition. It will hold a rally at Laldighi Maidan on Monday (Feb 12). Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury is scheduled to address the rally.

President of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry Saifuzzaman Chowdhury has viewed that hartal and strike in the port city are part of a deep-rooted conspiracy to cripple the country’s economy.

According to the estimate of CCCI, one day’s hartal in greater Chittagong inflicts a loss of Tk280 crore in business and industrial production.

Hartal not only disrupts export-import activities but also deprive the government of a huge revenue income, local businessmen said.

Giving a graphic picture of hartal and loss caused by it, the business community said the shutdown was enforced in greater Chittagong on January 7, 10, 11, 14, 15 and 22 and February 1, 7 and 8 by 4-party alliance, 11-party combine and local Islamic group.

Meanwhile, the Chittagong Port Authority has given special attention to face the situation seriously affecting its activities by frequent hartal.

The authority has decided to take stern action against port workers involved in creating trouble and unrest in the name of work stoppage, a port official said requesting anonymity.

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