Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) on Tuesday called for withdrawal of the 48-hour countrywide hartal to be enforced by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami from Wednesday. “BGMEA and BKMEA are humbly requesting to call off the hartal called for September 18-19 in the interests of the garment industry,” the two leading trade bodies of the apparel industry said in a statement.
Expressing deep concern over the announcement of the countrywide shutdown, they said readymade garment industry has already faced serious setbacks due to frequent shutdowns in the present year.
The industry will face further debacle if the two-day hartal is enforced, they added.
Earlier in the day, Jamaat called the 48-hour hartal from Wednesday demanding the release of its top leaders and protesting the Supreme Court verdict that sentenced party assistant secretary general Quader Mollah to death.
Jammat acting secretary general Rafiqul Islam Khan announced the strike through a statement hours after the announcement of the verdict.
-With The Independent input
