Business leaders in a meeting with the commerce minister yesterday expressed satisfaction over the government's steps to ensure security in the aftermath of recent terror attacks.

Even though their businesses are running smoothly, they are facing some challenges, they said. In some cases, their foreign partners are unwilling to travel to Bangladesh and want to meet abroad instead to discuss further work orders.

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed met the top business leaders at the ministry yesterday to discuss the current business climate and security issues.  

“Our factories are running, but we have a lot of challenges. Work orders are coming to Bangladesh, and we have to address the challenges,” said Tapan Chowdhury, president of Bangladesh Textile Mills Association.

“It is not true that we did not face challenges after the recent killing incidents in Dhaka. We have to stay united, forgetting religious differences, to face the current issues.”

“Many international garment retailers did not want to come to Bangladesh after the Gulshan attack. But they started coming again after the government assured them of police protection from the airport to the hotels and for factory visits,” said Salman F Rahman, chairman of Beximco Group.

“The Kalyanpur raid, in which nine militants were killed, has helped restore confidence among the businessmen and their foreign trading partners.”

Moinuddin Mintoo, acting president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said: “If we can build the confidence of the foreign retailers, growth in garment exports will continue.”

“Most factories are booked until December. Not a single work order has been taken away from Bangladesh following the Gulshan attack,” Mintoo added.

Syed Nasim Manzur, president of Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said everybody should highlight the responses that Bangladesh showed to the attacks. “Bangladesh should highlight that 99.99 percent of its people did not accept the Gulshan attack.”

He said at least 10,000 foreigners work at different factories in Gazipur. He visited his factory twice last week and the police officers in Gazipur have ensured the safety of foreigners by providing police security, he added.

Previously, members of the Ansar used to provide security to the foreigners in Gazipur, but now the industrial police have been deployed.

“We should also highlight these security measures to the foreigners so that they do not feel any insecurity in visiting Bangladesh,” said Manzur.

Abdul Matlub Ahmad, president of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said the Gulshan attack has not hampered the inflow of foreign investment. “Foreign investment is coming to Bangladesh despite the attack. Bangladesh does not shelter any terrorism. We also have to face the propaganda of foreign media,” Ahmad added.

The minister assured that no further terrorist attacks will take place in Bangladesh as the government has been strengthening and modernising law-enforcement agencies.