Chief adviser: Our first responsibility is to protect industries

Chief Adviser Prof Muhmmad Yunus yesterday assured business leaders of all possible support to take Bangladesh's industrial growth to a new height. 

"Our first responsibility is to protect the industries," he also said.

"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.

International Chamber of Commerce, Bangladesh (ICCB) president 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 vandalized 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 would be dented if safety and security were not ensured in the factories.

The Chief Adviser told the business delegation that his government is committed to protecting the factories from violence and attacks. 

He also urged the industry leaders to undertake labour reforms 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.

He said he has spoken to top business CEOs from across the globe, and they were keenly interested in investing in Bangladesh and placing 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.