Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)– Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has urged the government to stabilize the situation at the Chittagong port for the sake of the apparel sector.

“The BGMEA is gravely concerned at the deterioration of the situation,” BGMEA President Abdus Salam Murshedy said in a statement on Tuesday.

RMG exporters had to bear an additional cost of BDT 9.05 billion for air shipment during May-August this year to comply with the lead-time, the BGMEA added.

The BGMEA, however, urged the government to bring those to justice who were associated with the anarchy at the port in the last five days.

On Wednesday, workers under the banner of Dock Bandar Sramik Karmachari Federation threatened to start a fresh movement to press home their demands including recruitment of the workers scrutinized by the port authorities before giving work orders to the private berth operators.

The trade body also demanded formation of a committee to identify and compensation to the exporters who incurred losses.

BBN/SSR/AD-13Oct10-10:27 am (BST)