Leaders of Cox's Bazar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, local business organizations including Cox's Bazar Hotel Owners’ Association, District Restaurant Owners' Association, Shrimp Hatchery Owners’ Association, Dried Fish Businessmen's Association, Salt Mill Owners' Association, Tour Operators’ Association and leaders of Small and Medium Entrepreneur Foundation participated into a virtual [online] discussion on the implementation of the government's incentive package and demanded a special incentive package from the government to overcome the current crisis in the tourism sector in Cox's Bazar district during the Corona pandemic.
They also demanded that that the banks must increase their Cooperation in implementing the Covid-19 CMSME incentive package announced by the government so that local entrepreneurs can take advantage of the package.
Cox's Bazar Chamber of Commerce President Abu Morshed Chowdhury participated in the virtual discussion on Saturday morning. MP of Cox's Bazar-2 constituency Ashek Ullah Rafique, Senior Secretary of Local Government Department Helal Uddin, Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner Kamal Hossain, President of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mahb Alam-R, Premier Bank Adviser Mohammad Ali, Nazim Hasan Sattar, BSCIC Deputy General Manager Mohammad Hafizur Rahman, Chittagong Women's Chamber founder Member Monowara Hakim Ali, Coast Trust Director Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Hotel Ocean Paradise Chairman MN Kar , Hotel Royal Tulip Manager Aminul Haque Shamim, Simon Beach Resort Director Mohammad Sabed Ur Rahman, SEB Secretary General Nazibul Islam, -Naimul Haque Chowdhury, Salt Mill Owners Association President Shamsul Alam Azad, Abid Ahsan Sagar on behalf of Dried Fish Assoc., Ishtiaq Ahmed Joy on behalf of the Crab trader and M Rezaul Karim on behalf of Tourism participated in the discussion.
Abu Morshed Chowdhury discussed in details the incentive package of the government and the participants in the discussion demanded specific steps for the implementation of the government's package aiming to overcome the Corona crisis. The steps demanded for include: Announcement of a special incentive package for Cox's Bazar Tourism sector to overcome the Corona crisis.
Setting up of a "Help desk" in local banks of the district to get all the necessary information on the government incentive package.
Formation of a ‘Salt Development Board’ in Cox’s Bazar district to protect salt farmers’ interest and lifting of the lock-down so that everyone can carry out their economic activities and businesses in compliance with the government's health regulations.
MP Ashek Ullah Rafique said, “Our Prime Minister has taken all the initiatives in Cox's Bazar to promote tourism, but the Corona crisis has created a stalemate."
Under such situation, an effective implementation of the incentive package announced by the government is needed and if the banks ensure their cooperation, the tourism sector of Cox's Bazar and the local entrepreneurs will be greatly benefitted and be able to overcome the crisis.
Senior Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed said Cox's Bazar is a tourism-dependent economy and all economic activities are involved with it. All of the activities are now closed due to Corona. All business activities can be resumed following hygiene rules.
Deputy Commissioner Kamal Hossain said about three lakh people are indirectly involved in the tourism sector who are unemployed at the moment. We are thinking about their livelihood, we can talk to the banks so that they can assist the small entrepreneurs so that they can start a business.
President of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce Mahabub Alam said small and medium entrepreneurs are the lifeline of the economy and the driving force behind the employment. The government must take step carefully so that the sector is not harmed in any way, the banks must extend a helping hand in the implementation of the incentives to make the purpose of the government a successful.
Nazim Hasan Sattar, General Manager, SME Foundation, said 75 per cent of small and medium entrepreneurs in Bangladesh are deprived of banking services and it is important to bring them under banking services.
Premier Bank Adviser, Mohammad Ali, said in order to revive the CMSME sector which was almost non-existent during the Covid-19 period, an integrated plan needs to be adopted by establishing a mutual relation between the banks and the traders.
BSCIC DGM, Hafizur Rahman said, in the meantime CMSM has formed an 11-member committee to provide loans and supervision to the sector.
Naimul HaqueChowdhury Tutul, President of the District Restaurant Owners' Association said the restaurant and hotel employees who have been living inhuman lives for the past four months should be offered special incentives on the occasion of the upcoming holy Eid-ul-Adha.
