The last general elections in Bangladesh and the following year had cost apparel manufacturers of the country dearly, causing them to lose market and buyers in a number of countries mainly because of the violence taking place all over Bangladesh and discouraging retailers.

Five years have rolled over and Bangladesh would again go through a national election by the end of this month. The election year 2018 is drawing concerns over the potentiality of being a rough and violent year.

Dhaka-based think-tank South Asian Network on Economic Modelling (Sanem) has identified 2018 as a key year riddled with challenges and looming “political uncertainty,” inflation and sluggish exports and remittances for the economy of Bangladesh. Bangladesh’s apparel makers and exporters, who contribute to roughly 82 per cent of the economy, fear another such crisis with political parties gearing up in full swing for the oncoming elections.