After the advice from police, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has decided to transport products in the morning instead of night to avert ambush attacks on the highways. Escalating violence in several places has prompted the authorities to change the timing.
According to the decision, the goods-laden vehicles will start journey at 10am from Dhaka to reach Chittagong port at daytime under police escorts.
The vans carrying imported raw materials from Chittagong port to Dhaka will follow the same timing. This is to ensure safe transportation of goods of the country’s highest export earning sector. The previous timing was 10pm.
“We have decided to send products at 10am instead of 10pm to avoid ambush attacks on the highways. Police will continue to escorting the vans,” BGMEA vice president Shahidullah Azim told the Dhaka Tribune.
In the recent days, a number of vehicles loaded with goods came under attacks by the opposition protesters on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway.
The vandalism and arson attacks incurred huge loss on the RMG sector.
Vehicular movement has almost stopped over the past two months due to intensified political unrest.
According to BGMEA data, a total 290 vehicles laden with RMG products travelled from Dhaka to Chittagong under police escorts yesterday.
In last two months, total of 11,630 trucks and covered vans with RMG products travelled to Chittagong port under police guards. Besides, 8,243 vehicles with RMG raw materials came to Dhaka in the same way during the time.
Normally, 1,000-1,200 trucks and covered vans ply daily on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway, carrying raw materials and finished goods. According to the Bangladesh Truck and Covered-Van Owners Association, over 100 trucks and covered vans were torched during political violence in the past two months.