Production of more than Tk 300 crore was hampered in the garment sector in the five days of labour unrest and vandalism in Gazipur, Savar and Narayanganj, said leaders of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association on Thursday.
Besides, the garment makers counted Tk 200 crore in losses as many of them would be forced to make air shipment of exports to maintain the lead time.
‘This is an initial assessment of the losses and the actual amount of losses, including damage done to property, would be much
higher,’ the BGMEA vice-president Shahidullah Azim told New Age on Thursday.
He said that during the unrest in September 21- 25, about 150 factories were closed in Dhaka zone, particularly in Gazipur.
‘Today, we are happy that most of the workers have returned to work peacefully and factories resumed production,’ Azim said.
A total of 25 factories in Gazipur, mostly in Chandra area, remained closed as workers declined to resume work but no untoward incidents took place on Thursday, he added.
According to the BGMEA information, on the first day of the unrest on September 2, garment makers were forced to suspend production and announce holyday in 2000 factories because of a workers’ rally.
The violence in the four days from September 22 forced owners to announce holyday in 960 units on an average in Gazipur, Ashulia and Dhaka, the BGMEA said.
A BGMEA official said that the factories in Gazipur produce 25 per cent, Narayanganj 20 per cent, Chittagong 15 per cent and Ashulia, Savar Dhaka and other areas produce 40 per cent of the total export-oriented apparels.
Considering the percentage of the production, the recent unrest hampered production of nearly Tk 300 crore as the country’s garment sector adds value of Tk 300 crore per day in terms of ‘cutting and making’, he said.
Interruption of production worth Tk 300 crore does not mean the garment makers have counted Tk 300 crore in losses, the BGMEA official explained adding that after the production resumed, factories would make up for the manhours lost through overtime work.
The BGMEA vice-president (finance) Reaz-bin-Mahmood said that considering the production per day, it was an initial estimate of the production hampered in last five days.
Besides, some factory owners incurred huge losses as 65 factories were vandalised, 15 factories set on fire and 70 vehicles were damaged during the labour unrest, he said.
-With New Age input
