CHATTOGRAM: Director General of the Trade Organization Wing under the Ministry of Commerce Mohammad Mostafa Jamal Haider has urged trade organizations to set aside internal infighting and work towards sectoral development by identifying the specific issues facing their respective bodies.
He stated that the government initiated a move to amend the Trade Organization Rules, ensuring that only genuine trade organizations receive trade licences. Ineffective organisations that fail to conduct regular audits, elect new leadership, or comply with government regulations will be declared dormant or have their registration cancelled.
He made these remarks on Thursday during an exchange of views with business leaders at the conference hall of the World Trade Center, an event organized by the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI).
Mohammad Mostafa Jamal Haider said that any regional chamber must first address the various issues faced by associations and trade groups within its region. If such an organisation fails to resolve the issue, the Trade Organization Wing will reach a final resolution based on the opinion of the concerned chamber. This provision will be incorporated into the new Trade Organization (TO) Rules.
He said, "Chattogram is the country's primary commercial city and investment hub. It is essential to form a 'Chattogram Trade and Investment Forum' under the leadership of the century-old CCCI; this forum could organize an international investment summit to highlight the region's geographical and commercial significance, with the potential involvement of the Ministry of Commerce and the 'Invest Bangladesh' authority."
He added that the Companies Act is being updated to effectively incentivize business and investment.
Addressing the meeting, CCCI President Mohammad Amirul Haque said that without trade organizations, it is impossible to convey the concerns of the business community to the government. These organisations had become stagnant due to the prolonged absence of leadership elections, making it impossible to resolve various trade barriers through dialogue with the government -- a situation that ultimately harmed the business community. Therefore, it is essential for the government and the business community to work together to ensure that trade organizations remain active at all times.
Among others, former Senior Vice-President of the Chamber M. A. Salam, former Vice-President Syed Mohammad Tanvir, Chamber Directors S. M. Saiful Alam and Md. Afsar Hasan Chowdhury (Jasim), President of Khatunganj Trade and Industries M. A. Salam, Vice-President of Chittagong Metropolitan Chamber A. M. Mahbub Chowdhury, General Secretary of Terribazar Traders' Association Abu Mansur, and General Secretary of Sunmar Shop Owners' Association Rashed Ahsan, Shahed Sarwar, Advisor to the Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association; Kawsar Jamal, President of the Bangladesh Rubber Garden Owners Association; Abu Taher of the Motor Parts and Tyre-Tube Merchants Association; Touhidul Alam of the Fruit Traders Association; Md. Nazrul Islam Majumder of the Bangladesh Shop Owners Association; and Mamun Raja of the Sweets, Bakery and Restaurant Owners Association addressed the meeting.
Besides, CCCI Vice-President Mohammad Masiul Alam Swapan; Directors Kamal Mostafa Chowdhury, Aman Ullah Al Chhagir (Chhuttu), Engineer Md. Golam Sarwar, Asad Iftekhar, A. S. M. Ismail Khan, Mohammad Nurul Islam, Shahidul Alam, Mohammad Shafiul Alam (Badsha) and Md. Selim Nur also participated in the meeting.
