Dhaka, Nov. 30 -- BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday underscored the immediate need to reopen factories and industries that have remained closed over the past 15 years, noting that their shutdown has pushed around 1.4 million people into unemployment.

Speaking at the "4th Bangladesh Economic Summit 2025" in Dhaka, Fakhrul urged policymakers to rethink their stance toward entrepreneurs and give priority to job creation.

"Where will these people find work? Why are we perpetuating unemployment? We must focus on reopening these factories and creating employment opportunities through these institutions," he said.

The BNP leader criticised the current treatment of businesspeople-especially those accused of corrupti...