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Bangladesh: Kitwear exporters fear Tk 600cr loss |
2004-7-27
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Just when garment manufacturers were beginning to see afresh, in light of the recent changes of textile policy (CBD) announced by the government, that nature had to show its angst. Due to flooding of major cities of the country, Knitwear exporters apprehend a major export slump this year as about 600 knit garment factories were forced to stop production out of 750 units threatened by the deluge.
Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) yesterday announced that about 300 knitting and as many dyeing units in Dhaka, Narayanganj, Rupganj and Savar were hit by flash floods and had to be have already been closed.
40 percent absentees were reported in factories in the Dhaka-Narayanganj areas as most of the victim workers were involved in shifting their families and homes to safer places.
BKMEA has reported that if the situation persists for a couple of more days then the sector may face huge production deficit and export loss estimated at Tk 600 crore this fiscal.
This year''s export target of knitwear sector had been fixed at $2500 million, Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) sources said.
The sector earned US$1884 million in the first 11 months of the last fiscal year.
Transportation, which was badly affected, caused inordinate delays in despatch from about 300 factories in Narayanganj alone.
The association demanded reconstruction of Panchaboti crossing to Shashongaon road, the only route to enter the Narayanganj industrial area, for easing transportation of export-oriented knitwear products.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) has initiated a survey on flood-affected textile mills across the country.
"We have sent a letter to all our members asking them to inform us their possible losses," MA Awal, chairman of BTMA, told The Daily Star yesterday.
The association will hold an executive committee meeting today to discuss the flood situation and condition of the textile mills.
Handlooms located in Sirajganj, Pabna, Narsingdi and Bikrampur areas have been waterlogged even while the government is trying to grapple with the situation that has caused not only loss of property, but precious lives too. |
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