DHAKA: Top business leaders issued a seven-day ultimatum to arrest culprits for their involvement in setting fire to four garments factories of Standard Group.

President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed told reporters at a joint press conference after a meeting with countries top business leaders on Sunday.

The FBCCI President sought security from the government and sensible action from the opposition to protect the RMG sector and thus save the country’s economy.

He said they need to be given a level-playing field to do business smoothly. “Give us space and a level-playing field. We’ll show how we can take forward the country,” he said.

Kazi Akram also told journalists: “The political parties can do politically whatever they like but nobody has the right to destroy the RMG sector as RMG sector is our pride.”

BGMEA President M Atiqul Islam also urged the two top leaders to stop violence. “We call upon the two leaders (Hasina-Khaleda) to stop political violence as the RMG sector would be destroyed.”

The BGMEA chief issued a seven-day ultimatum to arrest those involved in the arson and expose them before the nation for ensuring exemplary punishment.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President M Atiqul Islam, ICCB President Mahbubur Raman, Bangladesh Insurance Association (BIA) Chairman Sheikh Kabir Hossain, Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) President M Sabur Khan, Bangladesh Textiles Mills association (BTMA) President Jahangir Alamin, leaders of chambers and association bodies and backward linkage associations were also present at the press conference held at BGMEA conference room.

BDST: 1830 HRS, DEC 01, 2013