Bangladesh's critical garment industry remains closed amid political turmoil; H&M, Zara worst-hit

Protesters shout slogans as they celebrate Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka. (AP photo)

A day after Sheikh Hasina stepped down and fled Bangladesh, country’s main garments manufacturers body has called for a total shutdown of all facilities, a BBC report said on Tuesday. Amid worsening political turmoil, this complete closure is seen as a major disruption to Bangladesh’s key industries.

The BBC report said that the complete shutdown of all garment factories across Bangladesh will hit major apparel giants such as H&M and Zara.

A cloud of uncertainty hangs over the reopening of the garment units. Several reports gave accounts of looting in Dhaka and other major cities.

According to the BBC report, while H&M sources the garments from over 1,000 garment factories in Bangladesh, Zara has its key manufacturing clusters based out of the country.

The significance of garment industry in Bangladesh economy can be gauged from the fact that the ready-made garment industry contributes 83 percent of total export earnings of the country. According to the World Trade Organisation’s 2023 data, Bangladesh exported $38.4bn worth of clothes. On global level, Bangladesh ranks number 3 after China and the EU in terms of garment export.

Bangladesh Crisis: What protesters looted from PM’s residence in Dhaka

From a giant fish to live duck to Disney-themed chair, protesters looted anything and everything they could lay hands on from Sheikh Hasina’s official residence in Dhaka. Photos of cheerful protesters coming out of the official residence went viral on social media even as the Bangladesh Army requested for peace and calm. The country is in a transitional phase with people waiting for the interim government and subsequent general election dates.