The readymade garment industry is exposed to risks of losing orders as buyers are staying away from visiting the country due to the ongoing political unrest, including frequent hartals, vandalism and arson. Orders particularly for the summer season, one of the major seasons for apparel exporters, would face a setback as apprehended by the manufacturers and exporters. “It’s high time for placing orders,” Salim Osman, President of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) told media. “If we fail to grab orders now for lack of security for the buyers, we would lose orders for the next season.”
He said buyers would hesitate to come to Bangladesh if they see the recent attack on a buyer, who immediately left the country without placing orders. The Spanish buyer of knitwear products left Bangladesh without placing any order as he was assaulted by Jamaat-Shibir activists in the city. He came under attack on his way to Fatullah in Narayanganj to place order at a factory owned by BKMEA President Selim Osman, who urged the government to arrange special security measures for foreign buyers.
“A group of buyers, who generally place orders in Bangladesh through negotiation cancelled their Bangladesh visit recently as they felt insecure due to the political turmoil,” said Md Abdul Hamid, a negotiator between garment owners and buyers. “Last year I had lots of foreign buyers. But this year, it witnessed drastic fall only for security reasons,” he said. “If the buyers cannot come to Bangladesh to place orders, it will cast shadow over summer season orders,” said Reaz Bin Mahmood, vice president of BGMEA.
