Garment factory owners on Tuesday decided to reopen their production units from Wednesday (7th August) to ensure timely shipments as they are facing pressure from international clothing retailers and brands.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) at its office in Dhaka, confirming a BGMEA director alongside a statement of the platform afterward.

The reopening was decided on the fact that factory owners would have to continue to pay workers’ wages, said the director, adding that if the goods are not produced and shipped timely, the buyers would not clear payments.

This will result in factory owners failing to pay workers on time, he said.

The garment factories were closed for three days, followed by four more days, due to a student movement that resulted in Sheikh Hasina’s resignation as prime minister.

Industry insiders, exporters, and worldwide retailers and brands have already raised concerns about production delays, the halting of raw material transit to factories, and the shipment of goods.

July, August, and September are peak months for both the shipment of Christmas goods and the booking of work orders for the next summer and spring seasons.

Mohammad Ali Khokon, head of the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association, stated that he did not ask anyone to reopen their units, but that they may do so at their own risk because peace and order had yet to recover.

Mohammad Hatem, executive president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), said they would also reopen factories on Wednesday (7th August) despite the risks as there was pressure from international retailers and brands for the timely shipment of goods.

Garment exporters anticipate a robust revival in exports and business as normalcy gradually returns with the shifting political landscape.