Bangladesh's business leaders request PM, BNP chief to settle political crisis

A delegation of business community has requested Bangladeshi prime minister and the opposition leader to end the current political crisis due to the difficult economic situation.

The business leaders on Wednesday handed over the memorandums to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Bangladesh Nationalist Party ( BNP) Chief Khaleda Zia.

Khaleda Zia, who leads a 20-party combination, has called on the country-wide blockade from January 6 to demanding fresh elections under a non-party caretaker government system as she said the election in last January was illegal.

The national blockade has claimed 38 lives so far and wounded 769 persons.

Earlier, the business leaders organized a human chain in Dhaka to urge BNP to immediately withdraw the on-going country-wide blockade.

They also urged the prime minister to take immediate step to settle the ongoing political crisis.

But Hasina said it is impossible to hold an election under the caretaker system and the general election will not be held before 2019.

Hundreds of exporters and importers in the garment and other sectors have been facing heavy financial losses due to the non- stop blockade and series of shutdowns called by BNP-led combine, according to the business leaders.

The industrial sector is the worst hit by the ongoing political crisis that continues to hamper transportation.

Meanwhile, prices of almost all essential items, including vegetables are on the rise due to arson attacks on transportation vehicles.

Rustom Ali Khan, general secretary of Bangladesh Truck and Covered Van Owners Associations, said van ply between Dhaka and southeastern Chittagong port every day has slumped to 7,000 from 14,000 during the blockade. Endi