In a rare high-level engagement between Bangladesh’s business community and a major political party, a delegation of leading industrialists paid a courtesy visit to Dr Shafiqur Rahman, amir of Jamaat-e-Islami, on Sunday, September 14, at his residence in Bashundhara.
The meeting, confirmed by Jamaat’s publicity department in a press release issued Monday, centered on pressing economic issues: improving the investment climate, ensuring industrial stability, and addressing concerns around the upcoming Labour Act 2025.
Industrial leaders urged all political parties to prioritise economic continuity and factory-level stability, warning that political volatility and regulatory uncertainty could deter both domestic and foreign investment.
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, in response, emphasised the critical need to strengthen labour-management relations to safeguard industrial output and sustain economic growth. “A stable, cooperative environment between owners and workers is not optional. It is the backbone of national progress,” he said.
The Jamaat chief also expressed appreciation for the delegation’s visit, noting their proactive engagement during a period of political transition and economic recalibration.
The delegation included some of Bangladesh’s most influential business figures: Tapan Chowdhury, Managing Director, Square Group & Former Adviser to a Caretaker Government; Mahmud Hasan Khan, President, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA); Mohammad Hatem, President, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA); Fazle Shamim Ehsan, President, Bangladesh Employers’ Federation; Saifullah Mansur, Director, BGMEA; Mozammel Haque Bhuiyan, Chairman, BGMEA’s One Stop Service Cell; and Masud Kabir, Chairman, Public Relations & Publicity Committee, BGMEA.
Jamaat-e-Islami’s Industry & Commerce Wing President Shahidul Islam and Secretary General Dr. Anwarul Azim, and eminent physician and party leader Dr Khaliduzzaman were also present the meeting.
This meeting signals a strategic outreach by the business community to engage with key political stakeholders, even those outside the current governing structure, as Bangladesh navigates post-election economic policy reforms and global supply chain realignment.
With the Labour Act 2025 under review, industry leaders are seeking consensus across the political spectrum to ensure labor regulations are worker-protective yet industry-friendly, avoiding disruptions that could jeopardize Bangladesh’s $55+ billion export economy, particularly its garment sector.
The BGMEA and BKMEA presidents’ presence underscores the urgency: labour unrest or policy missteps could directly impact buyer confidence at a time when Bangladesh is competing fiercely with Vietnam, India, and Cambodia for global apparel contracts.
While no formal agreements were announced, the dialogue opens the door for future policy consultations between Jamaat’s economic wing and private sector leaders, a development that may influence broader political discourse on economic governance.
As Bangladesh aims to graduate from LDC status and attract higher-value investments, such cross-sectoral dialogues may become increasingly vital to align political will with economic imperatives.