Hartal and political confrontations on the streets do not help in bringing culprits to book rather those only deteriorate the country's image problem and hinder economic growth, said a statement signed by chiefs of Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), Bangladesh Employers' Federation (BEF) and Foreign Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

The statement came on the eve of the second spell of the opposition-sponsored strike to protest the January 27 gruesome grenade attacks on an Awami League rally in Habiganj that killed former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria and four others.

"The business community commends the government's decision to seek international assistance in the investigation process and expects the killers will be brought to justice in the shortest possible time," the statement said.

"The business community once again repeats what it has been saying over the last several years that political differences ought to be resolved in the Jatiya Sangsad," said the statement jointly signed by MCCI President Kutubuddin Ahmed, BTMA Chairman MA Awal, BEF President M Anis Ud Dowla and FICCI President Mahbub Jamil.

The statement also condoled the death of Kibria and others.

BGMEA FOR WITHDRAWAL OF HARTAL
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BGMEA) in a separate statement yesterday urged Leader of the Opposition and Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina to withdraw the hartal in the interest of the country's export-import business.

"As the garment exporters are trying hard to survive in the quota-free regime, the hartal will badly hit the RMG sector," said BGMEA Secretary Md Fasihur Rahman in the statement.

Foreign buyers will also lose confidence in Bangladeshi garment exporters if the situation continues, Rahman said.