Business and professional associations on Wednesday gave the agitating Madhesi parties a three-day ultimatum to withdraw their strikes, making it clear they would operate transportation, educational institutes, health offices, hotels, tourism and market after the deadline.

A joint statement issued by the Merchant Association Morang and Morang Industry Association, who took the initiative, said they would be forced to open the businesses to ease the people’s lives if the banda is not withdrawn.

The agitating Madhesi Morcha on Wednesday decided to intensify the strikes by imposing blockage at border points, shutting down banking institutions and government offices. Under the initiative of these two business bodies, a 15-member Profession and Business Rights Protection Committee has also been formed after holding consultations about the impact of the banda.

Concluding that the banda for the past 40 days has affected industries, businesses, education, health, transport, and petroleum sectors, the associations decided to confront the strikes jointly.

Merchant Association Morang President Pawan Kumar Sharada said they could not remain silent over the continued banda as the traders have not been able to pay instalments to banks. “It is not wrong to protest for rights, but it is wrong to bother others,” he said.

Morang Industry Association President Shiva Shankar Agrawal said the government should compensate the losses faced by the business community due to the banda. “The government should take initiatives to ease the situation by holding talks with the agitating forces as soon as possible,” he said.

The committee includes representatives from various commodity associations, transport associations, association of petroleum traders, associations of private schools and colleges, hoteliers, lawyers, civil society members.