Buyers assure Gulshan attack not to affect exports : BGMEA

Global buyers of Bangladesh apparel products have assured their manufacturers of remaining with Bangladesh, saying that the Gulshan attack will not affect the country’s readymade garment exports, leaders of the RMG exporters said.
At a press conference on labour situation held at the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association office in Dhaka on Monday, its president Siddiqur Rahman said out of 17 foreigners who were killed in the Gulshan attack on July 1, six Italian nationals had been engaged in garment business in Bangladesh for long.
‘The incident put a temporary setback on our business,’ he said.
‘We hope to overcome the setback within a short time and global buyers have also assured us that it (the incident) will not affect the export business of RMG sector if Bangladesh,’ Siddiq said.
Some of the BGMEA members, however, expressed their apprehension that the Gulshan attack might put severe impact on export business as global buyers might suspend their visit to Bangladesh.
The BGMEA members, who preferred not to be named, expressed worry over the future of export business and said that it would take time to overcome the satiation.
‘I fear that the impact of the attack, especially killings of the foreigners engaged in garment business, will be severe on the garment export. It will be a tough task to bring in foreign buyers with a view to securing orders from them,’ said one of the BGMEA members.
He, however, said, ‘If the government can control further attacks like the Gulshan café siege, the situation might improve in the coming months.’
At least 28 people, including 17 foreigners, were killed in a militant attack at Holey Artisan Bakery restaurant in the capital’s highly secured Gulshan diplomatic enclave on Friday night.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net