Staff Correspondent

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has expressed grave concern over the unrest in the garment industry, saying that protests and vandalism in garment factories in Gazipur and Ashulia have forced the authorities to close 100 factories.

In a statement today Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General and former MP Professor Mia Golam Parwar said instability in the garment sector, the largest export earning sector, will in no way bring welfare to the country's economy and anyone concerned.

“If such unrest continues, all our neighboring countries, including our competitors, will get scope to destroy our garment sector and thus grab our RMG markets abroad,” he added.

He urged all concerned to work together from their respective positions to protect the interests of workers as well as the RMG sector for the sake of the country’s economy.

Noting that the production in garment factories is being badly hampered, he said Jamaat-e-Islami is closely monitoring the ongoing unrest and workers’ dissatisfaction in the industry.

Strongly criticizing the ‘very sad’ role of the deposed Awami fascist government which was largely involved in politicizing the huge private sector, the Jamaat-e-Islami secretary general said, “The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association has become a centre of rehabilitation of Awami League leaders and looting money.”

In addition, the BGMEA was busy to ensure the benefits Awami League ministers and MPs without paying attention to the issues related to business development and the interests of the owners and workers as well, he said.

Prof Parwar called upon the law enforcement and intelligence agencies to investigate who were the instigators or masterminds behind the ongoing labor movement.

At the same time, he requested all workers and their leaders to hand over alleged troublemakers and miscreants involved in the recent unrest in the RMG sector to the law enforcement agencies.

“We have to remind all - if the industry of the country survives, we will survive and the wheels of the country's economy will remain operational," he added.