The country's nearly $11 billion export-oriented garments sector will face a 'severe blow' if the government fails to take stern action against the 'trouble-makers', the industry warned Monday.
President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Anwar Ul Alam Chowdhury Parvez rang the warning bell, a day after more than a dozen apparel factories were vandalised by workers in Gazipur.
"Vested quarters have targeted the country's booming garments sector. Our export this year will face a severe blow if these conspirators are not tackled and punished," he said.
"The government should wake up and ensure security at our factories. Otherwise, we are heading towards a doom," he added.
He made the comments at a hurriedly-called press briefing, after angry garment factory owners sought protections following attacks on their factories that left garments and facilities worth millions of dollars damaged.
Several hundred workers of a factory demanding arrears and wage hike attacked adjoining factories in the Gazipur industrial area on Sunday afternoon, forcing production halt in almost all the plants in the area.
Some angry workers went on the rampage and set ablaze Mim Design Sweater factory located at the same industrial area.
BGMEA president sniffed conspiracy behind the attack on Mim Design, saying a group of unknown people in the guise of factory workers torched the factory.
"As far as we know, Mim Design never missed a single month's payment for the last twelve year. So why the factory was torched and vandalised? he asked.
Owner of the Factory, Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury said: "A group of some 20-25 people set the fire after spreading rumour that we will not pay our salary on Sunday, the fixed date for our monthly payment."
"We started the salary payment at about 2pm. Still, the outsiders stormed our factory and snatched the money we brought for payment to our workers," he said.
"They beat our workers and employees and set the factory on fire by throwing diesel on the floors. During the whole period, law enforcers remained silent," he said.
"If it is the situation," the BGMEA president said: "Who will ensure our security? Where we will go?"
Parvez said earlier on Monday he met labour advisor Anwarul Iqbal and sought protection for the country's more than 4000 export-oriented garment factories.
Garments sector is the vital engine of the country's economic growth. In the outgoing fiscal year, shipments from the sector accounted for more than 76 per cent of the country's $14.11 billion export earnings.
The export-oriented factories make up some 40 per cent of the country's total industrial workforce, with women accounting for 80 per cent of the 2.5 million workers.
