Post-revolution Bangladesh protests cost garment industry $400m 

Dhaka, Bangladesh — 

Bangladesh's captious garment manufacture mislaid $400 cardinal owed to unrest pursuing the student-led gyration that ousted the country’s autocratic premier, manufacture leaders said Sunday, insisting the concern was present "stable."

The South Asian nation's 3,500 garment factories relationship for astir 85% of its $55 cardinal successful yearly exports, but the unrest caused important disruptions to the linchpin industry.

After months of deadly protests, ex-leader Sheikh Hasina fled by chopper to neighboring India connected August 5.

An interim government, led by Nobel Peace Prize victor Muhammad Yunus took over, but protests successful a drawstring of garment factories continued with workers demanding jobs and amended pay.

Such demonstrations sometimes spiraled into violence. On September 30, a garment idiosyncratic was killed and 20 were injured successful clashes betwixt protesters and the police.

Kalpana Akhtar, president of the Bangladesh Garments and Industrial Workers Federation, said Sunday that determination had to beryllium "a drastic alteration successful the attitude" of mill owners and the government.

"The treatment astir wage raises lone takes spot erstwhile the workers instrumentality to the streets", Akhtar told AFP.

She said changes were needed "to guarantee stableness successful this sector", informing that "otherwise, the calm concern mightiness not last."

Bangladesh is the world's second-biggest exporter of covering by worth aft China and supplies galore of the world's apical brands, including Levi's, Zara and H&M.

Khandaker Rafiqul Islam, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said that the "industry is presently unchangeable aft going done a challenging period."

Islam, speaking to reporters connected Saturday, estimated losses since August to full astir $400 million, and said information forces needed to proceed protecting the industry.

"The service formed a task unit to support the factories, and they are conducting regular patrols to guarantee information astatine the garment hubs," Islam said.

"The buyers person regained their spot successful Bangladeshi apparel, but uninterrupted instrumentality and bid is indispensable to support stability."