President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) AK Azad yesterday urged the government to take initiatives so that foreign diplomats could not make any comment on the country's internal politics.

“We call upon the government to take initiatives and talk to the diplomats so that they don't interfere in our internal politics,” he told a function at Gulshan Club in the city last night.

Referring to the recent remarks by a group of diplomats from European countries at a joint press conference, Azad said they cannot give prescriptions to politicians by holding press conferences.

On Wednesday, the ambassadors of the European nations expressed their grave concern over the negative image of Bangladesh abroad caused by hartals, street violence, corruption, killing and disappearances. They called for dialogue between the parties to resolve the political problems and create a congenial environment to attract foreign companies to make investment in Bangladesh.

The FBCCI Standing Committee on Tourism and Hospitality Services arranged the function titled 'Prospects of Tourism & Steps for Us'. Commerce Minister GM Quader, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Faruk Khan and Civil Aviation Secretary M Ataharul Islam were also present.

The FBCCI president also urged political parties to shun the path of hartal, a “destructive means of protest”, and said they would help win elections that party which would promise not to call hartal when they will be in the opposition in the future.

“We need to be united against hartal….we need to ensure that no one dies in the name of hartal,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, GM Quader reiterated that hartal does not hurt the economy “unless there is violence”.

Referring to newspaper reports, he said the number of casualties in road accidents was higher than in hartals. “But it tarnishes the country's image abroad.”