The plea came when a team, led by Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Mir Nasir Hossain, met the AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil MP at his Mercantile Bank office in the city's Dilkusha area.

The team members include International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) President Mahbubur Rahman, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Tipu Munshi, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) President Md Fazlul Hoque, Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) Chairman MA Awal, Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce (BCI) President AK Azad, Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) President MA Momen and Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) representative Rafiqul Islam.

During the meeting, the business leaders voiced their concern about the current political stalemate over the electoral reform and the recent incidents in the apparel industry.

They offered their all-out support in holding dialogue with the government for the sake of the country's economic progress.

Abdul Jalil assured the business leaders that he would discuss the matter with the senior leaders of Awami League and of the 14-party opposition combine.

When contacted, Mir Nasir Hossain told the news agency that the political deadlock and its consequences like various destructive political programmes have been seriously disrupting the private sector.

"We've conveyed our anxiety to the AL general secretary about the political programmes like hartal and siege that vitiate the business climate, he said.

The FBCCI chief said they will soon meet BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan to convey the similar request on the imperative of the government-opposition dialogue.