Kazi Zahidul Hasan :
Global clothing brands and buyers have assured of their local suppliers to stay with them despite the terrorist attack at an upscale restaurant in Dhaka.
Bangladesh is the second-largest exporter of garments in the world, supplying to major global brands including Gap, Marks & Spencer, Walmart, Zara and H&M.
The $26-billion garment industry accounts for 80 per cent of the country’s exports and the industry employs some four million people.
“We have talked to several big global brands and buyers after the deadly incident in Dhaka. But they did not show any intention to quit Bangladesh. Even, they conveyed sympathy to us assuring that they may not sever ties with their local suppliers,” M Siddiqur Rahman, President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) told The New Nation on Monday.
He said, “We have long-time business relations with the buyers. So, they may not shift their business right now”.
“Bangladesh is a low cost and reliable apparel sourcing country. This will also help preventing the buyers to wrap up their business from the country,” he added.
Rahman, however, said that buyers remain cautious and assessing overall security threat to foreigners after the attack.
“No adverse impact on our business is yet to be seen after the attack,” Mohammad Hatem,” a former Vice-President of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers’ and Exporters’ Association told (BKMEA) The New Nation yesterday.
Even, the buyers did not cancel import orders from local suppliers after the incident, he claimed.
“But we came to know that some buyers have already canceled their Dhaka tours due to security concern. They have told their suppliers to hold meetings in Singapore, Hong Kong and New Delhi instead of Dhaka,” he said.
Terming the Dhaka shooting an “unexpected event,” the BKMEA leader said terrorism has become a global phenomenon and the recent spate of militant attack in Bangladesh is part of this campaign.
Earlier, two European retailers (H&M and Marks and Spencer Group PLC), which source clothes from Bangladesh, say their operations in the country are not immediately affected. “There are no plans in changing any sourcing but we are following the development closely,” Ulrica Bogh Lind, spokeswoman for H&M, said this in a statement.
