Jumbangla Desk: Due to political unrest, government collapse and labor unrest, a part of Bangladesh's garment purchase order has gone to the markets of neighboring India and other countries. This situation is seen as a deep crisis for the country's largest export sector.

Syed Mohammad Zakir, a director of No Exit, is an intermediary between buyers of foreign brands and garment factories in Bangladesh. He said ninety percent of one of their customers' orders went to India because they couldn't make shipments on time. Customers can return only if the situation improves.

He said, many of my orders have been placed in India. A customer who used to work here placed his orders in India due to shipment and delivery issues. If we can improve the situation the customers will come back again.

Ashulia, Savar and Gazipur areas of Bangladesh where large garment factories are located are the most affected areas. A worker was also killed in a clash with the joint forces during a period of labor unrest and tension.

Although the situation is said to be improving, it is clear that it is not completely normal. Rubana Haque, former president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association BGMEA, termed the current situation as a major setback for the garment sector.

He said, many factories remained closed for twelve to fifteen days. completely closed Some people think that they managed to drive till noon and then they couldn't. They are all a waste. And the biggest loss is that our customers are moving away. They say that we are with you, Bangladesh will need it, they say all that, but we know the reality of it. The reality is that at least 25-30 percent of the orders will move by December. And moving to different countries, going to Cambodia, going to Vietnam, going to India, going to Pakistan, even going to Myanmar.

Rubana Haque also feels that there is a crisis in highlighting the problems of the garment sector.

There are several reasons for instability in the garment sector in Bangladesh. Conflicts over fraudulent trades, ownership issues, arrears, in some cases incitement by outsiders and new demands by workers have worked behind it.

Mohammad Shahjahan, a leader of labor organization in Ashulia area, said that some businessmen and political leaders who are close to the previous government had problems in the factory, so after 5th of August, the workers also came to the field with various demands. This movement started with the demand of equal jobs for men and women. You know that over thirty claims are coming in. Each factory has different requirements.

General Secretary of Bangladesh National Labor Federation Maryam Akhtar believes that an external influence has worked behind the creation of labor discontent. One problem with fake business is that new people want to replace the old ones. Besides, there were some external problems. And there is some international pressure. Those who want this industry to move from our country to another country.

From the owner's side, there have been accusations of external fuel or a conspiracy behind this instability. In this regard, Rubana Haque said that the government should look into the root cause of instability in any garment sector. There is definitely external fuel and someone is working behind it. Now who is the ghost of Sarsha, it is not possible for us to be able to repeat it. Because we can only see the worker-owner relationship, work behind it, go to our factory and talk. But I can't see who is outside. This should be looked at by the government.

Many believe that the lack of coordination and lack of law enforcement is one of the reasons behind the prolonged and complicated crisis. After the fall of the government, the police went through a major crisis. There was a kind of deficiency in the way Shilpa police and detectives coordinated their activities. Still the Industrial Police from different districts are performing duty in Ashulia Savar area.

After the fall of the government, the reality is that many leaders of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) are disillusioned. Abdullah Hill Rakib is now serving as acting president.

About the situation, he said, so far many people could not reveal it. Whose accumulated anger is now being expressed. I would say that the scope of law enforcement coordination remains. Everyone has good will. is trying Army is the best of giving. In fact, the government should play a more strict role here. As we speak, they may be trying too.

What does the Ministry of Labor say?

The reality is that every day there is trouble in some factories due to various problems including wage arrears, layoffs. The government is now taking initiatives to solve factory-based problems. Joint forces have been very active in Ashulia Savar area. If there is a problem in any factory, they go and try to solve it through discussion.

The main message of the activities of the industrial police, RAB, BGB and the owners-workers and trade unions to keep the workers calm in the garment factories is that labor discontent should not grow in any way. Do not spread.

Labor adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan said that the government has started working by accepting the demands of the workers. Steps have been taken to implement the eighteen points. The government is taking measures to pay salaries and allowances by giving loans to factories where there are outstanding salaries. Want to resolve these issues through maximum consultation. And solving. We are also working on counterfeiting, how to control it centrally. Given that the political violence that happens there, every time during the transition, it can also be controlled. So we are addressing the whole issue. And security will improve over time. Now the businessmen have come to a level of confidence in the security we are trying to provide.

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If the instability in the garment sector is not resolved, its impact will be long-term. Economists say that if the situation is not handled, the country will face a big loss.

Research Director of the Center for Policy Dialogue. Golam Moazzem said that it is necessary to quickly resolve this instability by implementing the wage structure and improving the employer-employee relationship. We have to say that the damage is really big. Losses in the sense that we have not only factory orders and workers' wages, but increasing foreign exchange reserves has become a very important challenge for us at the moment, where exports and remittances have always played an important role. From that point of view, it is very important for us to return to the stability at the factory level.

Bangladesh ranks second in the world in the export of ready-made garments. There is no alternative, everyone says, to maintain this position and work towards a permanent solution to labor grievances and take steps to normalize the situation quickly for growth and development.

Source: BBC Bangla