Leaders of Bangladesh's main export industry fear a wrong message going to overseas market following production disruptions all the export-oriented garment factories will also shut today (Monday) amid violence-taming curfew.
"All garment factories listed with BGMEA and BKMEA will be closed Monday for a second consecutive day for the safety of workers and industry," says Mohammad Hatem, executive president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA).
He told the FE that both BKMEA and Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) leaders on Sunday evening had a meeting with the principal secretary to the Prime Minister MD Tofazzel Hossain Miah and took the decision of continuing the production suspension for the second day in a row.
They will again sit with the government authorities concerned today (Monday) and decide next course of action, he said.
He, however, hopes with the verdict of the Supreme Court the prevailing situation would return to normal and factories would reopen accordingly tomorrow (Tuesday).
Earlier in the day, the apparel-sector leaders from BGMEA and BKMEA sat together separately in a city hotel where former BGMEA presidents Siddiqur Rahman, Mohiuddin Islam, AK Azad and Tipu Munshi, among others, were present.
During the meeting with PM's Principal Secretary, the sector leaders urged the government to keep export-oriented garment factories out of the purview of closure and allow them to be operational, Mr Hatem said.
If workers remain inside the factories, there would be discipline, he said. Otherwise, workers residing in different areas could be used by vested groups.
"It would also give a wrong message to buyers if factories remained closed," he said.
He said they also requested the government for immediate measures so that internet connections resume immediately as their import-and export-related all activities have halted in absence of internet broadband connection.
Condemning the last few days' vandalism, damage to state property and acts of arson, he said they also demanded measures against those who indulged in such subversive acts through identifying them.
UNB adds: Other leading business organisations in the country, including FBCCI, DCCI, MCCI, CCCI and SAARC Chamber, have expressed deep concern over the ongoing instability in country's economy surrounding anti-quota protests.
"If this violence continues in the name of movement, it will hinder the country's overall economic progress," business leaders said in a statement on Sunday.
They, however, expressed optimism as the government and protesting students have already agreed to end the impasse soon, and some coordinators of the student movement made statements denying any involvement with the widespread violence, vandalism and arson attacks.
Besides, the business leaders extended their support to the government decision to hold accountable the perpetrators of wide-scale destruction of state properties. They were of the opinion that the judicial commission formed by the government will open the path of solution.
The business leaders have also expressed their profound shock and sorrow at the loss of lives during the clashes over the last few days.
They expressed their sympathies to the bereaved family members and wished speedy recovery of the injured.
In this regard, president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Mahubul Alam told UNB on Saturday that blockades, hartals and violence cost the economy Tk 65 billion a day.
"So, we repeatedly have urged political parties, students, and others to avoid activities that cause financial loss and create public suffering," he added.
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