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FGD on Necessity of Improving Law & Order for Facilitating Business
In recent times, businessmen have lost confidence in expanding trade and investment due to insecure business environment, extortion, fraudulent online activities, transportation risks, corruption, cyber threat etc. said Taskeen Ahmed, President of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) at a roundtable discussion on recent law and order situation held at DCCI on 21 May, 2025. He therefore, urged the government to ensure a conducive environment for operating business in a smooth, transparent and secure manner. Mentioning that he said there is a need for collective efforts of all stakeholders to improve the current business environment, and urged all to come forward to cooperate with the law enforcement agencies.
The DCCI president stated that while every citizen has the right to exercise their democratic freedoms, it is equally important to uphold the rights of the business owners to operate their business without disruption. Therefore, considering the difficult geo-economic situation, he urged all concerned to remain vigilant so that the day-to-day activities of the people are not disrupted along with conducting business. For an improved law and order situation he recommended more community policing, fast track response centres to tackle extortion and fraud, special mobile team for night time patrolling at the highway to secure goods transport and coordination among all the law enforcing agencies. He also opined that administrative and commercial decentralization is also necessary to reduce the ongoing pressure on the capital Dhaka, which will further consolidate the development of the country's marginal areas.
DCCI’s former senior vice president Alhaj Abdus Salam said, we are seriously concerned about the recent law and order situation because, it is not even restored up to the expected level yet. Though businessmen are paying taxes and VAT, their businesses are being hampered due to unstable law and order situation which is not acceptable. He later urged the law enforcing agencies to respond sternly against the criminals.
Former DCCI vice-president M Abu Horairah recommended increasing parking facilities in the Dhaka South area as well as relocating the office of the traffic department of the south from Shantinagar to Gulistan. He also suggested to relocate the battery-run rickshaw from the city area. He also demanded the proper implementation of strategic transport plan of Dhaka city immediately.
DCCI Director Enamul Haque Patwary suggested to arrange regular coordination meetings among the stakeholders and organize community awareness raising programmes. He also requested the law enforcers to evacuate makeshift street shops from the footpath and roads.
Golam Mowla, president of Bangladesh Edible Oil Traders Association, said the law and order situation has not improved to the expected level after the political transition in the country. He said the cost of importing goods through land ports is increasing because of hiring trucks through the brokers. He also said that due to the uncontrolled truck stand at Moulvibazar area, a huge traffic congestion is created on Babubazar Bridge, which is hampering business activities. Besides, he said, there is a need to increase police patrolling in Lalbagh, Kotwali and Chawkbazar areas in the evening for the safety of traders’ cash movement.
Haji Md. Abul Hashem, president of Bangladesh Sugar Traders Association, urged the government to reduce the tax on imported sugar as the price of sugar has increased due to increased tax. It has also increased the capital investment of the traders as well. Although the government has 14 sugar mills, at present maximum are closed and they can meet only 2% of the total demand. Moreover, there are only three sugar mills in the private sector which is also low in terms of quantity. He later opined that the government should run at least two sugar mills throughout the year under a pilot project in order to ensure better supply chain and market competition. He said supply chain and balanced competition will help reduce sugar price in the market.
President of Moulvibazar Traders Association Haji Syed Mohammad Bashir Uddin suggested to make it open import of sugar and oil by the private sector importers. He said this will increase competition in the market, stop illegal hoarding and reduce the price of these items.
Nesar Uddin Khan, senior vice-president of Bangladesh Pulses Traders Association, said the businessmen are deeply concerned about the juvenile gang, seeking strict intervention of the police administration to prevent it.
Hazi Foyezuddin, vice-president of Bangladesh Manihari Merchants Association, said trucks carrying goods are not able to go to Chawkbazar and other places as the entry roads to old Dhaka are closed due to various processions. He said although old Dhaka is a hub of businesses and commerce, the absence of any traffic police in Chawkbazar and Moulvibazar areas is making traffic congestion unbearable, which needs immediate action. He said the small entrepreneurs are sometimes not getting adequate loans fulfilling various conditions of banks whereas tariffs on import of goods have gone high in manifold.
President of Mohammadpur Townhall Kachabazar Traders' Association Lutfur Rahman Babu said the law and order situation in Mohammadpur is deteriorating and the law enforcement agencies are not taking effective steps in this regard. He also called for continuing the eviction of encroachments from the footpaths in front of Townhall market.
Motijheel Police station Inspector (Investigation) Md. Mahaimenul Islam said the law and order situation after 5th August and now is not the same, rather more improved but he agreed that still it is not conducive for business activities. He said the concerned agencies are trying to establish a friendly environment and police alone cannot be successful without intervention of people. He said the police are stern against the juvenile gang as always and will be the same in future also. Regarding traffic congestions, he later said that sometimes we deliberately break law as if it will create no harm but it should not be the way we act. We should be responsible because this is our city and we are living in this city.
DCCI senior vice president Razeev H Chowdhury, vice president Md. Salem Sulaiman and convenor of the law and order standing committee Waliul Islam Dollar were also present in the meeting.
Published on: 2025-05-21