Zakir Hossain Nayan, Anti-Discrimination Reform Council presidential candidate in the upcoming FBCCI election has said he would oppose any political interference in the election to the apex body.
He said, we are not outside national politics. But it is our responsibility to ensure that political influence does not impair the country's top business organization.
He made this observation at 'Meet the Press' program in Dhaka Reporters Unity Auditorium on Thursday. Former FBCCI director Gias Uddin Khokon, council member secretary Md. Zakir Hossain, members Belayet Hossain, Anisur Rahman Badsha and other business leaders were present at the press conference.
Zakir Hossain Nayan said, I am a medium-sized businessman. Earlier, businessmen in this sector did not dare to run for FBCCI elections. A reference would be sent from a special place, and the president would be elected on that basis.
Many times, despite being representatives of weak chambers, some have been elected presidents, for whom political interests were the main thing, not the interests of businessmen. This time we want to break this culture.
At the press conference, Nayan highlighted some of his panel's election pledges. He said, small and medium entrepreneurs have been neglected for years. Now is the time to give them importance they deserve.
Along with this, it is also important to increase the participation of women entrepreneurs in the chamber election. Currently, women account for only 12 percent of the country's business community, which is not enough for a sustainable business environment.
Stressing on diversifying exports, Nayan said with the country's transitions from LDC status, exports in the garment sector alone will decrease by about $8 billion. To compensate that loss, new sectors will have to be brought forward.
Export capacity will have to be increased by modernizing other sectors including jute, charcoal, fish, fiber. Diversifying exports, should be prioritized to create new markets, he said.
