Keep factories open; wheels of economy moving: Prof Yunus

Seeking cooperation from all to keep factories open and economy functional, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday said the workers’ brothers and sisters have many pains but it will not be right if their main livelihood is about to be stopped while expressing that grief.

“It will not be right if the country’s economy is destroyed. We will definitely find a solution to these problems by talking with both the owners and workers,” he said in a televised speech to the nation marking the first month of the interim government which was formed on August 8, reports UNB.

“You keep the factory open. You keep the wheels of the economy moving. Let the country’s economy stand straight. We will do our best to find a permanent solution to your problem. Our request to the owners, please reach an understanding with the workers. Keep the factory running. Strengthen the poor health of the economy.

Prof Yunus said they are working day and night to improve the law and order situation. He said all the brothers and sisters who were disrupting work by protesting daily in front of his office and the Secretariat to seek a solution for their pain of the last 16 years have responded to his call and stopped the protest.

But, he said, they are again disrupting traffic elsewhere. “I promise not to forget your logical requests. We are committed to addressing all injustice. We will try to solve all the problems as much as possible within our tenure. I again request you to refrain from disrupting normal activities. The nation will be grateful to you.”

In order to express their grievances, the workers in the RMG zones and pharmaceutical industry are constantly forcing the operation of these industries to stop, Prof Yunus said.

He said the negative impact it will have on the economy is not at all desirable. Prof Yunus said the institutional structure is almost destroyed.

“Foreign exchange reserves have hit rock bottom. We are trying to give breathing life into this economy. We are also getting responses to our initiative. If our industrial plants are closed down, rendered ineffective at this time, the country’s economy will be hit hard. That cannot be desired by anyone,” he said.

Acknowledging the pains of workers, Prof Yunus said the government wants to take the pharmaceutical and garment industries to their potential peak and there is no question of weakening these two key industries.

“The pharmaceutical and garment industries are the pride of the country. Through this, our workers’ brothers and sisters and their efficiency have impressed the world. Its success has now hindered. We want to remove the obstacles by identifying the problems of these two industries,” he said.

Prof Yunus said they will gather foreign buyers and seek their cooperation so that these two industries of Bangladesh can become more reliable than other countries in the world.

“Everything is possible if we can make the labor-owner relationship a reliable and enjoyable one,” he said.
He said the first month of the government has passed and from the second month they want to start a new labor-owner relationship as part of building a new Bangladesh.

“It is desired by everyone in the country. We are working towards that goal so that the new generation of the country can move forward with their future without fear,” Prof Yunus said.

The Nobel laureate said they have many responsibilities. “We have to work together on a number of issues to build a just society,” he said.