The deadly terrorist attack against foreigners in Bangladesh has sent shock waves throughout major Hong Kong-listed garment manufacturers that operate in the country. So much so that Japanese apparel giant Uniqlo has curtailed all but critical business travel to the world’s second largest garment exporting nation. A senior executive from Hong Kong clothing giant Mainland Headwear Holdings, which operates a factory in Bangladesh, has aired his views and said that his company has immediately requested local authorities to step up security procedures around its facility on concerns over the safety of its expatriate staff there. 

The moves were made after as many as 18 foreigners, including Japanese, Italians and a US citizen, were killed when a group of Islamist militants stormed an up market cafe in Dhaka, the Bangladeshi capital, last Friday. 

Extremism has been on the rise in the Bangladesh, which over the years, has become Asia’s second biggest garment manufacturing base with its low labour costs.