In light of the ongoing violence, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has ordered that all factory owners keep their doors closed till further notice due to concerns about vandalism and potential losses.

The message was shared among members of the garment exporters’ platform via WhatsApp, according to Md Ashikur Rahman Tuhin, a BGMEA director.

Even though this is the busiest time of year for Christmas shipping and accepting orders for the upcoming summer and spring seasons, the apparel manufacturers were forced to close for four days during the initial wave of violence two weeks ago, so this is just one more setback for the industry.

During the violence in mid-July, the exporters could not communicate properly with their business partners abroad because of an internet blackout.

Exporters now fear mounting losses as export performance had already been poor over the last two years of the severe fallout of Covid-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, runaway inflation in the Western world, the Red Sea crisis, and a labour unrest at home.