Bangladesh

Violence and unrest continue to plague Bangladesh as political demonstrations around several major issues persist in the country. At least 5 people were injured on February 16 in Dhaka’s Gulshan-2 circle when a bomb was thrown at a crowd of people on their way to join a protest led by Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan against the nationwide transport blockade and hartal organized by the BNP, the country’s primary opposition party. Supporters of the ruling Awami League vandalized several nearby shops in retaliation for the blast. Another episode of violence occurred outside of a Dhaka courthouse after Abdus Subhan, a leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, was sentenced to death following several war crime convictions. At least 87 people have been killed so far this year from political unrest. (The Daily Star ) / ( Deutsche Welle)
 
An explosion was reported near the site of a hunger strike organized by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) aiming to encourage the country’s two major political parties to resolve their differences and end weeks of violence that have taken a major toll on the country’s vital garment exports. The blast was reported just after noon on February 14 in front of the BGMEA headquarters where several group leaders, including BGMEA President Atiqul Islam, were participating in the strike. It’s not clear if anyone was injured in the blast. (BD News 24)
 
Several Western apparel companies have agreed to resume sourcing from a Bangladeshi company that came under fire last year after a video surfaced of two union leaders being abused at two of the company’s factories in Chittagong. The brands say that the decision to resume placing orders with the Azim company came after they vowed to recognize and bargain with union representatives and provide other benefits to its workers. An investigation led by the brands late last year blamed the factory managers for instigating the attacks. (New York Times)
 
Bangladesh’s central bank says it will make available US$500 million in low-cost loans to help garment factories implement eco-friendly practices. Industry officials say that inefficient use of resources and poor environmental practices are major challenges facing the sector and that wide adoption of so-called “green” practices is essential for the country to reach its US$50 billion export target. Leaders are also pushing for a green development policy to be included in the next 5-year plan for the country. (The Daily Star)
 
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) says that the country’s readymade garment industry needs an influx of information and communications technology (ICT) support if it hopes to reach its goal of US$50 billion in exports by 2021. Speaking at a recent technology conference, BGMEA President Atiqul Islam noted that while an estimated 40,000 people work in the garment sector ICT field currently, the demand for workers in this field is slated to grow significantly in the coming years. He also says that the BGMEA hopes to work with the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) to help meet this demand. (Hawker BD)
 
Bangladeshi diplomatic officials fear that garment exports to Japan may tumble in the coming months as disposable income among consumers is expected to shrink. In a recent letter to the Commerce Ministry in Dhaka, Bangladesh’s ambassador to Japan noted that a new 10% consumer tax, coupled with the volatility of the value of the yen, has taken a bite out of consumer spending in the country, which correlates to a decline in apparel sales. (Dhaka Tribune)