IBFB held its successive 8th Annual General Meeting (AGM)

H.E. Dan W. Mozena (2nd from right), the U.S. Ambassador; Dr. Mizanur Rahman (middle), Chairperson of National Human Rights Commission & Mr. Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed (3rd from left), FBCCI President are seen with IBFB Officials – Mr. Hafizur Rahman Khan (3rd from right), President, Mr. Mahmudul Islam Chowdhury (right), Founding President, Md. Omar Shafayat Kausar (2nd from left), Vice President & Mr. Humayun Rashid (left), Vice President (Finance) of IBFB.

The AGM was started with a condolence for the Late President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Md. Zillur Rahman and observing one minute’s silence with a prayer to the Almighty Allah that his dedicated departed soul might rest in eternal peace in Jannatul Ferdous.

Mr. Hafizur Rahman Khan, President, IBFB presided over the AGM. In his opening speech, Mr. Khan briefed the audiences about some research and advocacy works accomplished by IBFB in the past on issues like Shipbuilding Industry, Light Engineering Sector, Environment Clearance for Industrial Ventures, Strong Public Financial Management, Business Ethics, Industrial Credit & Improving Transparency of State-owned Commercial Banks, Complexities in Income Tax Laws and its simplification, City Governance & Private Sector Development, Strengthening Local Governance, Role of Media in Business Advocacy, Identifying the Problems on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Reducing Corruption in Land Registration etc. Reiterating IBFB’s involvement in developing different policy guidelines, he informed the audience about a recent initiative named “Formulation of Policy Guidelines for Development of Motorcycle Industrial Sector in Bangladesh” which was submitted to the Govt. for immediate enactment and effective implementation. To explore business opportunities, he added, IBFB also undertook several trade delegations to different foreign countries like Bhutan, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and very recently Myanmar. While discussing about recent political unrests, Mr. Khan requested all political parties to consider the economy of the country as the top most priority in their respective political agenda, and to ensure political stability, rule of law, good governance, transparency and accountability, best democratic practices & cultures within their respective parties and in their political activities within the country. He also requested the political leaders to resolve all political problems and relevant discrepancies through dialogues, mutual respect, and coordination.

Dr. Mizanur Rahman, while delivering his inaugural speech, said that the country’s democracy is in danger now as it has been hit by partisanship where only some voices count. Diverse opinions are quite obvious in democracy, but the tendency of not accepting oppositions or diverse opinions can never ever be a democracy. He said, democracy does not necessarily mean of killing people, trampling minorities, and destroying public properties as to achieve political demands. Killing people can never be a politics; rather it must mean socio-economic development of general people. Dr. Rahman called upon the business community to raise voices against negative and destructive politics and not to finance such political parties that encourage terrorism and violence in the country. He appreciated the business entrepreneurs for their enormous contributions to building an economically strong Bangladesh and also to reducing significantly child labors in Bangladesh, especially in the garments industry. He also urged the business leaders to invest in vocational training institutes alongside establishing private universities so as to create skilled and semiskilled labor in the country, and eventually to stand by the people as to adopt capitalism with human face.

Mr. Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed said there is no alternative but to industrialize the country rapidly and enhance trade & commerce activities including bilateral and multilateral trades with different foreign countries to increase GDP and boost up the economy. However, all hurdles or barriers including bureaucratic red-tapeism, lack of transparency & accountability etc. on the path of industrialization must be removed. The FBCCI President claimed the business community as the engine of country’s economic growth as it generates employment and significantly contributes to the government’s efforts for alleviating poverty, ensuring social wellbeing and improving living standard of the citizens. But, he added, we are observing very sadly the recent political unrest and related violent activities which are deteriorating the business and economic activities of the country. Such unrests are not expected at all as they are detrimental to the interest of business and economy of the country. In this context, he invited IBFB to come forward and work together with FBCCI and other chambers to find out ways of upholding good political environment, strong law and order situation etc. so as to ensure the development wheel of the country rolling on.

H.E. Dan W. Mozena reiterated his reinforced contention that Bangladesh is well poised to strut across the global economic stage, reflecting economic power commensurate with its size as the world’s seventh largest country, and as such becomes the next Asian Tiger. The country has great potential to grow and export flowers to the Middle East and to expand exports of clay tiles to Italy. The U.S. Ambassador said, Bangladesh, the home of fourth largest Muslim population, is a moderate, tolerant, democratic alternative to violent extremism and that it is America’s good partner in fighting terrorism and violent extremism. He appreciated Bangladesh’s improving ties with its neighbors to bring stability in this region, and its contributions to international peacekeeping, and also its critical role in achieving global food security, an obvious point since food security is not possible unless the world’s seventh largest country can feed itself. Regarding bilateral relationship between Bangladesh and the USA, the US Ambassador said, the ongoing bilateral partnership has helped Bangladesh to reduce maternal mortality, under-five mortality of children and fertility rate. It has helped the country in achieving food security, adaptation to the effects of global climate change and disaster preparedness. Under the partnership nearly 550 cyclone shelters has already been built or rebuilt, and another 130 buildings are under process. He, however, expressed his concerns over labors’ rights and safe working conditions in Bangladesh. He apprehended that Bangladesh may lose its trade privileges under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) due to inadequate workers’ protection including other issues such as constraints on workers’ ability to freely associate, harassment of labor organizers, refusal to register legitimate unions, firings of those seeking to create unions, unsafe working conditions etc., especially in the RMG and shrimp sectors. The US Ambassador hoped that Bangladesh would ensure basic humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya refugees so that they could cope with their difficult living situations. He also requested the Bangladesh government to ensure the continued effectiveness, integrity and unique governance structure of Grameen Bank, which brings hope for a brighter future to over 8 million vulnerable Bangladeshis, mostly women. He hoped that progress on labor rights, retention of GSP, and an ILO Better Work project could set the stage for explosive economic growth and greater opportunity for all Bangladeshis. The US Ambassador opined that the members of IBFB, both individually and collectively, can make a difference in improving workers’ rights and workplace safety. The advocacy and collective action from IBFB can help move Bangladeshi industry towards compliance with international labor standards. Data from countries around the world indicate that when labor standards improve, workers receive fair pay, safety and working conditions are improved, everyone benefits – both workers and owners, resulting in increased worker satisfaction, productivity, profits, export competitiveness etc. Before concluding his remarks, the US Ambassador suggested an immediate cessation of political violence and early agreement among the political parties on a way forward to hold free, fair and credible elections as to help greatly in attracting investment dollars from China and elsewhere to come to Bangladesh. He hoped that Bangladesh will undertake to realize its vision of a Middle-Income Bangladesh, Sonar Bangla, where all Bangladeshis have the means to provide their families safe housing, ample, nutritious food, quality education, and good healthcare. Sonar Bangla is no vacant dream; it is a vision waiting to become reality when and if you choose to make it reality.

Mr. Mahmudul Islam Chowdhury, Founding President & Immediate Past President of IBFB, in his closing remarks, conveyed his gratitude to H.E. Dan W. Mozena, Dr. Mizanur Rahman and Mr. Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed for making the AGM of IBFB very graceful with their kind participation and valuable remarks. He also thanked to other important dignitaries, distinguished guests and friends from different print & electronic media for taking some of their valuables time off to come and attend the program.

In the Second Session i.e. General Meeting Session the agenda of the Notice of 8th Annual General Meeting were transacted, where nine (09) new Directors to be served in the IBFB Board of Directors were elected. The meeting also approved introduction of a new category of membership named Life Membership in IBFB.

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