Apparel exporters in Bangladesh find production and shipment are being affected by the activities of the Jamaat-e-Islami. They are protesting the death sentence awarded by the International Crimes Tribunal to its leader Mir Quasem Ali for committing crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War. They have called for nationwide general strikes.

The strikes being enforced by the Jamaat are hampering production at factories as well as transport of commodities to the port. Exporters fear they can’t make shipments in time for Christmas and that buyers will reduce the volume of orders. The strikes have taken place at a time when a good number of buyers are coming back to Bangladesh. They had shifted their business in the last year due to political instability and after the setback following the Rana Plaza building collapse.

The feeling is that growth of export earnings from readymade garments in the first half of the current financial year will be negative due to the ongoing general strikes. Exporters say that considering the well-being of the national economy political parties should apply alternative ways of protest and the government should protect the export-oriented sector from all kinds of interruption. <br/>