Bangladesh is one of the most important textile suppliers to the European market. But during the recent unrest, textile factories in the country were also attacked. This has brought the army into action.
Following the recent unrest in Bangladesh, which left hundreds dead, the army is to protect the operation of the country’s important textile factories. The government has sent soldiers to affected industrial districts to ensure that temporarily closed factories are reopened and production can continue without disruption, said army and industry representatives. The move took place one day after a transitional government led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus took office.
Looting
The Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce recently reported that there had been looting, destruction and arson attacks on several textile factories. Many factories have been temporarily closed in recent days for fear of new attacks in the absence of law enforcement officers. The country’s economy is heavily dependent on the textile industry. There are almost 4,000 textile factories there, which employ more than four million people, mainly women.
Soldiers patrol
Soldiers have begun patrolling the affected industrial areas, said one of the directors of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Shovon Islam. A special unit has been formed for this purpose, an army commander was quoted as saying by local television station Jamuna.
After weeks of street protests, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who had ruled Bangladesh in an increasingly authoritarian manner, fled her country for India. According to local media, more than 400 people died in violent clashes between demonstrators and police and in violence after Hasina fled.
Association: Effects could also affect German consumers
The German Retail Association (HDE) expects the conflict to have a noticeable impact and possibly even lead to rising prices for consumers. “As an important production location for the global fashion industry, short-term factory closures and production interruptions can lead to bottlenecks,” HDE Managing Director Stefan Genth told the German Press Agency. For consumers, this could lead to higher prices and a reduced availability of fashion items.
After China, Bangladesh is the most important import country for clothing for the fashion industry in Germany. According to the Federal Statistical Office, goods worth a total of 7.1 billion euros were imported into Germany in 2023.
Source: Stern
