Leaders of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) on Thursday called for a national referendum on hartal. The apex body of country's trade and commerce at a meeting on current political situation lauded the government for cracking down on militant groups alleged to be involved in bomb attacks and other subversive activities.
As an alternative to hartal, the FBCCI resolution recommended that the opposition should be allocated an hour a week in the state-run Bangladesh Television (BTV) to express its stance and opinions to the public. Describing unemployment as the main national problem, they said that if hartal continues there would be a slowdown in investment growth as well as job market. The leaders of industry and commerce urged the government to conduct independent and thorough investigations into the bomb and grenade attacks and arms haul incidents. They demanded the probe reports be made public. Besides, they asked the government to stop mass arrest before
