Business leaders termed the attempt to kill Bashundhara Group Managing Director Sayem Sobhan Anvir 'a threat to the country's investment and employment.'
They urged the government to ensure security of the lives and property of the country's business leaders to keep running the wheels of the economy.
The attempt on the life of the Bashundhara MD has already stirred deep resentment among the business community, they said.
Talking to journalists, BKMEA executive president Mohammad Hatem expressed deep concern over the murder plot, saying some influential people might have been behind it.
The masterminds of the plot should be identified and brought to justice, he said.
Chattogram Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) president Mahbubul Alam said, "Any attempt to kill entrepreneurs is not acceptable. I strongly protest it."
Earlier, Dhaka Boat Club member Nasir U Mahmood was sued and harassed following a complaint lodged by actress Porimoni. He had to languish in jail for days before being released on bail.
Soon after the incident, a plot was sketched to assassinate the Bashundhara Managing Directors. A youth named Saiful Islam Saad was arrested in connection with the plot. A firearm was recovered from his possession. Saad confessed that he was assigned by Whip Shamsul Haque Chowdhury and his son Nazmul Karim Chowdhury Sharun to kill the Bashundhara MD.
The masterminds are yet to be arrested. The delay in arresting the plotters has triggered grievances among the businessmen. They are worried about the future of their investments. They demanded adequate safety for their lives and property.
During 1/11 episode in 2007, businessmen were harassed and extorted by a vested quarter. The businessmen are yet to get back money notwithstanding the government promised to return it. Many businessmen were sued and sent to jail illegally. As a result, trade and commerce came to a halt and country's economy faced a debacle.
In a major shift, the conspirators have planned to kill top business leaders and destroy economy putting the government in an awkward situation.
The plotters would like to destroy the economy which is already crippled by the Covid-19 pandemic. They are engaged in a deep-rooted conspiracy to obstruct the country's socioeconomic development during Awami League government.
It may be mentioned that police thwarted the ploy and arrested a boy named Saiful Islam Saad for attempting to kill Bashundhara MD.
Major (retd) Sheikh Mohammad Mizanur Rahman, head of Bashundhara Group's Public Relations Department, lodged a general diary (GD) with Vatara Police Station on Friday in this regard.
During preliminary interrogation, Saad confessed that he was preparing to attack Sayem Sobhan Anvir during Jumma prayers on Friday at the behest of whip Shamsul Haque Chowdhury and his son Sharun.
Saad was supposed to shoot Anvir to death during Friday's Jumma prayers.
Earlier, the organised gang tried to kill Anvir through feeding him with milk laced with poison and stabbing. However, they failed to execute the plans.
Masterminds behind the plot must be traced
Mohammad Hatem, executive president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), said "Plot to kill Bashundhara Group Managing Director is really a matter of great concern. I strongly protest against the attempt. I think any influential group is behind the plot. It is responsibility of the government to trace the masterminds and bring them to book."
Bashundhara Group is the largest business conglomerate, he said adding that attempt to kill Bashundhara MD is not an act of petty offenders and there must be powerful quarter behind it.
Perpetrators must be punished
Mohammad Ali Khokon, president of Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), said "The people involved in the plot must be identified and brought to justice. Bashundhara Group has created employment of 70,000 people. There are 40 industries and concerns under the Group. An influential quarter is involved in the plot. The perpetrators and masterminds need to be detected and punished."
Protest by Ctg business leaders
Businessmen leaders in the port city Chattogram registered strong protest against the recent plot on the life of Bashundhara Group Managing Director Director Sayem Sobhan Anvir.
Condemning the plot, Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) president Mahbubul Alam said any attempt on life of the business entrepreneur is not acceptable. "I strongly protest against it."
If the perpetrators of the plot on Bashundhara MD are not punished, it will cast a negative impact on the country's investment and economy, he said.
Countrywide protest, human chain
People from different strata of the society protested against the plot by holding rallies and forming human chain for the third consecutive day on Monday.
Shahbagh of the capital
In Shahbagh of the capital, a human chain was held in front of the National Museum at 11am on Monday, condemning plot to kill Bashundhara Group Managing Director and Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra Limited Chairman Sayem Sobhan Anvir.
The participants of the human chain demanded immediate arrest of Jatiya Sangsad whip Shamsul Haque Chowdhury and his son Nazmul Karim Chowdhury Sharun for masterminding the plot.
In Gulshan-2 of the capital
In Gulshan-2 of the capital, a human chain was formed demanding immediate arrest of Whip Shamsul Haque and his son Sharun for their heinous attempts to kill Bashundhara Group MD.
The programme was held at the traffic intersection around 11:00 am on Monday.
The speakers in the human chain said perpetrators attempted several times to kill Bashundhara MD. They demanded exemplary punishment to the culprits.
ECB Chattar of Dhaka
In ECB Chattar of Dhaka, a human chain was formed protesting the repeated attempts to kill Bashundhara Group MD.
The residents of Manikdi and Cantonment areas took part in the human chain.
Participants of the programme demanded exemplary punishment to Whip Shamsul Haque Chowdhury and his son Sharun.
They also demanded that the criminals be taken to justice immediately.
Uttara of the capital
In Uttara of the capital, a human chain was formed protesting multiple attempts to kill the country's top business conglomerate Bashundhara Group's MD and Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra chairman Sayem Sobhan Anvir.
The programme was held at Jasim Uddin intersection around 11:30 am on Monday.
General people of Uttara attended in the human chain said that they will continue protest until exemplary punishment of the perpetrators is ensured. Terming Sayem Sobhan Anvir icon of the youth, they said development of the youth is only possible by him.
Barishal
In Barishal, the business community expressed deep concern over the multiple attempts to assassinate Sayem Sobhan Anvir.
They strongly protested against the incident and demanded exemplary punishment to all perpetrators including planners of the pot.
Rebeka Sultana, secretary of Barisal District Women Business Forum, said that Bashundhara Group is the largest business conglomerate in the country. The attempt to assassinate the MD of this Group is very sorrowful for the business community.
She demanded that exemplary punishment be meted out to the masterminds of the murder plot.
Acknowledging Bashundhara's significant contribution to the economy, Kazi Miraj Mahmud, joint general secretary of Barishal Clinic and Diagnostic Owners Association, urged the law enforcers to bring all the culprits to book to avert such untoward incident.
President of the Barisal Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce & Industry and director of the FBCCI Nizam Uddin Mridha said such incident is undoubtedly very worrying. Whoever is involved in this incident, all of them must be brought under the law. At the same time, the issue of exemplary punishment must be ensured.
Terming Sayem Sobhan Anvir an asset of the country, prominent businessman and managing director of eurotel bd online ltd SM Zakir Hossain said it is very regrettable to hear that several attempts were made to kill such a talented and efficient entrepreneur.
Saidur Rahman Rintu, launch owner and president of Barisal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has demanded that those involved in the incident be arrested and brought under the law.
Meanwhile, another group of businessmen in the Barishal city organised a human chain in front Ashwini Kumar Hall on Sadar Road demanding exemplary punishment to the culprits.
Jahangir Alam Hawlader, a local businessman, presided over the event which was addressed by Gazi Mohiuddin, Md Nazrul Islam, Moazzem Hossain, Mahfuz Hossain, Farhad Hossain Fuad and Tareq Mahmud Rana.
Kushtia
In Kushtia, a protest rally and human chain were held demanding arrest of those involved in the attempt to murder the Bashundhara Group MD.
Members of Kushtia Press Club organised the human chain at its premises at 11:00am on Monday.
Presided over by Press Club president Al-Mamun Sagar, the programme was also attended by its secretary Anisujjaman Dablu, office secretary Nahid Hassan Titas, treasurer M Liton Ujj Zaman, District Freedom Fighter Commander Haji Rafiqul Alam Tuku, Bangladesh Mofossal Sangbadik Forum's (BMSF) Kushtia District unit President Hasibur Rahman Riju, Daily Kaler Kantho's district correspondent Tariqul Haque Tariq, News24 Staff Reporter Zahiduzzaman, and Daily Sun's Kushtia correspondent Rezaul Karim Reza.
Mymensingh
In Mymensingh, businessmen of the district demanded arrest and trial of those involved in the assassination attempt on Bashundhara Group MD and Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra Chairman Sayem Sobhan Anvir.
The demand was made at a protest rally and human chain of traders and people of all walks of life in the Baro Bazar area of the city Monday morning.
Pabna
In Pabna, businessmen and people from different sections formed a human chain at Bera Rajghat area in the morning protesting the assassination attempt.
They demanded arrest of Whip Shamsul Haque Chowdhury, also MP from Chattogram-12 constituency (Patiya), and his son Nazmul Karim Chowdhury Sharun for masterminding the assassination attempt.
Altab Hossain, President of Bera Ghat Business Association, businessman Sagar Hossain, leader of Bera Ghat Workers Association Harun Aur Rashid, leader of local Shop Owners Association Solaiman and other local business leaders and dignitaries attended the protest programme.
Later, they brought out a protest procession.
The same day, human chains and demonstrations were held in Nagarbari Ghat area of Pabna in protest against assassination attempt on Bashundhara MD.
Sirajganj
In Sirajganj, businessmen held a human chain demanding arrest of Whip Shamsul Haque Chowdhury and his son Nazmul Karim Chowdhury Sharun---the masterminds of the assassination attempt.
The traders of the district organised the human chain programme at the Bazar Station Chattar of the city around 11 am on Monday.
Saiful Islam, director of Shuvechcha Traders, Shafiqul Islam of the Traders, Matiar Rahman, owner of Bondhan Traders, Shimul Islam of Bhai Bhai Traders, Mozammel Haque, proprietor of Haq Iron, Aminul Islam and Raju Ahmed, proprietors of Asma Traders, spoke on the occasion.
Laxmipur
In Laxmipur, business community condemned the attempt to assassinate the Bashundhara Group Managing Director.
President of Laxmipur Chamber of Commerce and Industry MR Masud, vice-president Sankar Kumar Majumdar, Laxmipur Trade Association general secretary Abul Kalam Azad and Sadar upazila Jaksin Bazar Trade Association adviser Mojammel Hossain expressed deep concern over the multiple attempts to assassinate Sayem Sobhan Anvir.
Manikganj
In Manikganj, a human chain was formed demanding arrest of Whip Shamsul Haque Chowdhury and his son Sharun Chowdhury for plotting to kill Bashundhara Group Managing Director Sayem Sobhan Anvir.
People of different classes were present in the programme held in front of Manikganj Press Club at 11 am on Monday.
President Golam Sarwar Chanu, general secretary Biplob Chakraborty, joint convener of District Juba League Mahbubur Rahman Johnny and Mahmudul Haque Shubha and others spoke on the occasion.
Jamalpur
In Jamalpur, a protest rally and human chain were held demanding arrest of those involved in the attempt to murder the Bashundhara Group MD.
The human chain was organised in front of Jamalpur Press Club around 11 am on Monday.
President of Jamalpur Press Club Hafiz Raihan Sada presided over the human chain.
General Secretary of Jamalpur Press Club Lutfar Rahman spoke on the occasion.
The speakers demanded immediate arrest of whip Shamsul Haque Chowdhury, his son Sharun Chowdhury and other perpetrators of the heinous incident.
Faridpur
In Faridpur, people held a rally in Boalmari upazila protesting the assassination attempt on the Bashundhara Group MD.
Boalmari Upazila correspondent of Bangladesh Pratidin Liakat Hossain presided over the protest rally organised by Boalmari Civil Society at 10.30 am on Monday.
Conducted by Professor Kazi Tareq Parvez, the programme was also attended by freedom fighter Nawabuddin Ahmed Token, cultural personality Gazi Shamsuzzaman Khokon, eminent businessman Anisuzzaman, eminent businessman Bishnupad Saha, educationist Debashish Kumar Shaha and cultural personality Jiban Krisham Pal.
Khulna
In Khulna, protesting the assassination attempt on the Bashundhara Group MD, people formed a human chain at Picture Palace Intersection at 11:00am. They also brought out a rally that ended at Khulna Press Club.
Khulna business organisations and members of the civil society organised the event.
Khulna Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) director Md Mofidul Islam Tutul presided over the programme while KCCI directors Md Islam Khan and Abul Hasain, proprietor Md Afroz of M/S Abdul Razzaque Aziz, Janata Cement Agency director Md Sadiuzzaman spoke on the occasion.
Jashore
In Jashore, people took part in a rally in front of district press club protesting the assassination attempt on the Bashundhara Group MD.
Businessmen Shariful Alam Swapan, Md Abdul Quader, Md Shamsuzzoha Channu, Shah Md Ekramul, Sushant Kumar Biswas and many others participated in the programme.
BDST: 1800 HRS, NOV 09, 2021
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