The industry body expects government support to maintain law and order in the industrial belts; simplify and expedite customs and port procedures; stop unnecessary delays in loading and unloading from ships at Chattogram Port; allow use of utilities without disconnection for the next three months; and ensure banking sector reforms do not affect production and commercial activities.

It also wants formation of a task force comprising officials from the National Board of Revenue and the Bangladesh Bank to formulate business-friendly policy support for the industry; and demanded adequate power supply to industrial units apart from a sustainable power and energy policy.

The task force formed by the Army to protect factories is conducting regular patrols to ensure security of the garment hubs, BGMEA president Khandaker Rafiqul Islam told a press conference. BGMEA has also introduced community policing in collaboration with the Army.

Around 4 million garment industry workers have been brought under the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) fair price product sale scheme, BGMEA was cited as saying by domestic media reports.

Export orders of many factories are at risk due to the labour unrest, and for such factories, the association demanded non-classification of loans against all types of loans and provision of rescheduling facility.

It also called for a safe exit policy for garment entrepreneurs who are unable to sustain their businesses.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)