Buyers Office Representatives Forum in Dhaka, a platform of readymade garment buyers’ representatives in Bangladesh, express concern over the nationwide 10-day internet blackout amid deadly violence centring quota reform protests, and urged to ensure uninterrupted communication in future.
They also fear on backlogs, and asked the manufacturers to complete the ordered products as soon as possible, and expected the country’s situation will be stable within a short period of time.
They expressed their concern in a meeting, led by BGMEA President SM Manna Kochi, associated with the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) leaders held at the BGMEA office in the capital's Uttara area on Monday afternoon.
The buyers called on the BGMEA leaders to talk with the government officials to restore uninterrupted internet with high speed so that they can communicate with their headquarters.
They also urged the local suppliers to ensure the goods are shipped on time and stressed the need for restoring internet services for faster communication with the retailers.
After the meeting, BGMEA President SM Mannan Kochi said the retailers and brands assured them that they would not seek any discount, demand air shipment or cancel work orders because of the latest spell of violence and a halt in production.
A member, who attends the meeting, told The Business Post, “Buyers’ key concern is communication disruption. They were in a blind spot about their goods during the countrywide internet blackout. They urged to talk to the government not to disconnect internet services in future.”
He added, “Buyers assured that they will not impose penalty for shipment delay, and will not ask for air shipping. But they urged to clear backlogs as early as possible to get their product’s delivery promptly.
“They [buyers] also assured to cooperate in any circumstance as Bangladesh has a good and long term relationship with them.”
The member participant further said that during the meeting, BGMEA President Kochi reaffirmed the buyers that the BGMEA's as well as the government's highest possible support to reduce the impact of such untoward incidents. They have already resumed production with special permission during the curfew.
During the meeting, the BGMEA leaders said that they have met with the State Minister of the Shipping Ministry, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, and urged to speed up internet in the ports and customs areas. The state minister assured them positively.
The BGMEA leaders further said that while broadband and mobile internet connection has been resumed after a 10-day internet blackout, internet speed has not been fully restored. However, they have communicated with the buyers,
Meanwhile, the retailers and brands have expressed concern about the timely shipment of garment items as the local exporters are facing delays in ports because of the latest countrywide violence and curfew centring the quota reform movement.
Bangladesh is already suffering from a foreign exchange reserves crisis, and has secured $4.7 billion in support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Besides, during the July-May period of FY2023-24, Bangladesh exports posted 5.9 per cent year-on-year negative growth and earned $37.34 billion.
In the July-April period of FY24, the apparel sector, which contributes nearly 84 per cent in the export earnings, posted 6.7 per cent year-on-year negative growth, according to the central bank’s balance of payment (BOP) report.
Amid the situation, Bangladesh is observing a historical student movement since early of this month, which demanded the reformation of the quota system in government jobs.
After suffering attacks allegedly carried out by ruling party supporters and facing a shutdown by law enforcement agencies, Baishamya Birodhi Chhatra Andolon, the platform leading the students and job seekers seeking quota reform through peaceful demonstrations, announced a “complete shutdown” across the nation starting from July 18.
However, the protests turned into severe violent incidents as students were forced to clash with law enforcers, leading to numerous casualties. The situation went out of hand when unknown groups of people used the clashes to battle it out with law enforcers and launch attacks on government establishments around the country from that evening.
As violence continued the next day, the government from July 19 midnight was forced to impose a curfew and deploy the Bangladesh Army nationwide to bring the situation under control. Afterwards, it took several days before the army and other security forces brought back the normal environment in Dhaka and elsewhere.
However, this crisis reportedly left more than 200 people dead and thousands injured across the country.
Since July 19 evening, Bangladesh has been facing an internet blackout. While broadband internet was partially restored on July 23, the government has been working on fully restoring the connection. It is yet to be confirmed when the connection, including mobile internet, will be fully restored.
While complete normalcy is returning every day more and more with longer relaxed hours during the day amid the curfew, many industries and factories started production last Wednesday via special permission from the authorities concerned.
Apparel sector leaders have claimed that they suffered a direct loss of about Tk 6,500 crore every day during the curfew and internet shutdown but the indirect loss would be much bigger.
