The global buyers of the RMG products have urged the commerce minister to maintain the supply chain, resolving the ongoing political disturbance rapidly for the sake of the country’s apparel business.
They came up with the call at Byers’ Forum meeting held at a city hotel yesterday. The representatives from 65 brands including Inditex, Walmart, H&M, C&A Tesco and GAP attended the meeting.
Responding to the buyers’ demands, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed assured the buyers of maintaining uninterrupted supply chain through ensuring enough security measures.
All the activities in the RMG sector are quite normal excepting increased transportation cost for caring finished goods, claimed Tofail.
“The BNP and its allies are operating militant activities in the name of hartal and blockades but they won’t be able to hinder the economic growth,” vowed the minister.
Political unrest has tarnished the country’s image but the magnitude of the violence came down, said Tofail.
After the Rana Plaza incident, the buyers started to come Bangladesh to place orders being assured of safety standards as per inspection report of Accord and Alliance, said BGMEA President Atiqul Islam.
“But the ongoing political unrest has once again cast shadow on this potential sector, which is very unfortunate for us,” said Islam.
A meeting source noted that the buyers are facing trouble in their movement due to blockade, which is barring them in clearing or placing the orders.
Expressing concern over the political turmoil situation, the buyers observed that “if the situation prolongs further, it would be very tough for us to do business here,’’ said the source quoted buyers as saying.
