The situation outside Dhaka has taken a severe turn due to the ongoing blockade and hartal, Finance Minister AMA Muhith said today.
“Disconnection of the districts [from the capital] has become dangerous for the economy. It is the most concerning thing. We will have to keep the districts functional,” Muhith said at a press conference at Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka.
“The impact of hartals in Dhaka is not significant, but the impact in the district level is alarming,” he added.
The economy is paying a heavy price due to the blockade that continues to disrupt supply chains, corner businesses and threaten government’s revenue mobilisation.
The country has lost at least $10 billion directly in physical damages and lost productions, incomes and profits since the BNP-led alliance launched its nonstop blockade on January 6, according to estimates from various chambers and associations.
The blockade and violence have badly hit farm incomes, disrupted inter-district road and rail transport, pushed up food inflation, weakened buyer confidence on the exporters’ ability to deliver in time and halted the rebuilding of investors and consumers’ confidence.
– Star Online Report
