Serious transport disruption between Dhaka and districts for more than one month due to the opposition's blockade has emerged as a major threat to the economy, said Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday.  

The capital's getting cut off from districts is dangerous for the economy and "this is the most serious concern", he told reporters at a briefing at the secretariat. "We will have to keep the districts functional."

As the BNP-led alliance began enforcing the countrywide blockade on January 6, pickets resorted to deadly arsons and petrol bomb attacks, torching hundreds of trucks and buses and burning dead more than 60 people so far.

The blockade has paralysed supply chain, hit farm incomes, snapped inter-district road and rail transport and cornered local businesses, particularly the small ones.

Farmers are the worst affected as they are not being able to get produce to the market. Shop owners said their sales have dropped by 70 percent.

"The impact of hartals in Dhaka is insignificant, but the effect at district level is becoming dangerous," said Muhith.

Deploying security for additional hours to deter violence is another financial burden. A finance ministry official, seeking anonymity, said law enforcers have so far sought Tk 100 crore.

Muhith, however, declined to disclose the amount law enforcing agencies are seeking.

He said: "We are yet to make any additional allocation of fund. The expenditure of the law enforcing agencies including the police and Border Guard Bangladesh [BGB] has gone up sharply.

"We will have to do something for them. The demand for the fund has been raised."

The minister also said the government has not yet assessed the economic loss caused by the month-long blockade and associated arson or petrol bomb attacks.

He also did not make comments about the economic loss estimated by a number of chambers and associations.

With productions, incomes and profits hampered, the country has lost $10 billion in physical damages since the blockade was launched, according to estimates from various chambers and associations.

Every day, the economy is losing about Tk 2,277.86 crore due to the blockade and strike. The amount would stand at Tk 2,500 crore if the daily loss is calculated taking into account the 25 percent of the total industrial production loss, the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry estimates.

"These are mainly perception-based, not facts-based," said Muhith, adding that the government would look into the issue when it reviews the economic situation in March.

Replying to a question, he said it would not be possible to take special move for smooth operation of trucks and covered vans carrying industrial raw materials and goods.

"We are already providing them with extra security."

The veteran ruling party politician vehemently criticised the ongoing blockade and violent activities in the name of political movement.

"It is not a political movement. What is happening now is pure and simple enmity against the country. Resisting the development of the country is the sole goal of Khaleda Zia."

"My regret is that people belonging to the BNP have become part of the criminal activities."

The minister also responded to the call of BNP Vice-Chairman Hafizuddin Ahmed, who demanded the government step down to pave the way for ending the blockade.

"The thought of resignation of the government is just of a sort of balloon without any air."

However, on the current political crisis, he said, "I don't know how it will be solved. The prime minister is looking after it."

The current spell of the blockade, which is the longest in the country's history, has cast a shadow on the government's target to achieve 7.3 percent gross development target for the current fiscal year.  

"We were confident even in December that it would not go down below 7.2 percent. Now we are highly doubtful whether the growth target would be achieved," the minister said.

He said 2014 was a good year for the country thanks to the government's macroeconomic management. "I was personally hopeful that 2015 would be wonderful for us," he added.

"Now I can't make any forecast given the current deadly activities going on across the country."