Expressing satisfaction over the current security and business environment, Bangladesh's top businessmen today said the foreign buyers have restored their confidence in the country for the stringent security measures taken by the government, BSS reports. They said the law enforcers' crackdown in capital's Kalyanpur that killed nine militants has sent a positive message to the foreigners in keeping trust in Bangladesh which dimmed slightly after the heinous killing at Holey Artisan Caf, at Gulshan here recently. The businessmen came up with the observation while discussing the overall security scenario and business environment with Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed at his secretariat office. Urging all to highlight that 99.99 percent people of Bangladesh didn't accept the brutal attack on Gulshan caf, Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) President Syed Nasim Manzur said it is our duty to highlight the responsibilities that Bangladesh showed after the attack.
Mentioning that nearly 10,000 foreigners work at different factories in Gazipur, he said Gazipur district administration has ensured the security of the foreigners by providing police.
"Previously, the members of the Ansar used to provide security to the foreigners at Gazipur, but now the members of industrial police have been deployed for security of foreigners at Gazipur," said Manzur, adding, "We should highlight the security measures so they (foreigners) do not feel any insecurity to visit Bangladesh."
BEXIMCO Group Vice Chairman Salman F Rahman said "Many international garment retailers did not want to come to Bangladesh after the Gulshan killing, but now they started coming again when the government assured police protection for them from the airport to hotels and factory visits."
He, however, said the Kalyanpur incident in Dhaka, where nine militants were killed, has helped restore the confidence in the businessmen and the foreign trading partners. "Now, the work orders are coming, although we faced some problems initially."
Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) President Tapan Chowdhury said "It is not true that we did not face challenges after the recent killing in Dhaka. We faced crisis, but we are trying to solve the challenges. However, there are no major changes in the businesses after the killing incidents."
"But, we have to be united forgetting the religious diversity to face the current challenges," opined Chowdhury.
"If we can build confidence in the foreign retailers, the growth of garment export will continue as the retailers always demand for security," said Moinuddin Mintoo, acting president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).
"Most of the factories are booked with work orders up to December. Not a single work order was shifted from Bangladesh to other countries following the Gulshan attack," revealed Mintoo.
Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Abdul Matlub Ahmad said the inflow of foreign investment was not hampered due to Gulshan attack. "Foreign investment is coming to Bangladesh despite the attack. Bangladesh does not shelter any terrorism," added Ahmad.