Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- Country’s garment makers have demanded withdrawal of the 48-hour hartal, generally known as general strike, called by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami from Wednesday.
Two leading trade bodies of the apparel industry– the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) – are humbly requesting to call off the strike called for September 18-19 in the interests of the country’s apparel and clothing industries,” the trade bodies said in a statement on Tuesday.
Expressing deep concern over the announcement of the countrywide shutdown, the garment makers said readymade garment industry has already faced serious setbacks due to frequent shutdowns in the recent months.
“The industry will face further debacle if the two-day hartal is enforced,” it noted.
As a delegation of the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety is now visiting Dhaka to ensure workers’ safety and security following the Savar tragedy, the strike would create a bad impression among the visiting buyers, the statement said.
Earlier in the day, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami called the 48-hour general strike from Wednesday (Sept18) demanding the release of its top leaders and protesting the Supreme Court verdict that sentenced party assistant secretary general Quader Mollah to death.
Acting secretary general of the Jamaat-e-Islami Rafiqul Islam Khan announced the strike through a statement hours after the announcement of the verdict.
BBN/18Sept13-1:05 pm (BST)
