Exporters fear growth may fall for unrest

Despite political and factory safety challenges at home and an image crisis abroad, apparel exports maintained positive growth during the first eight months of the current fiscal year.

However, garment exporters fear the prospects may not remain the same in the coming months.

"

The growth might not last, and the impacts of the ongoing political unrest on garment exports will be evident soon," said Atiqul Islam, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association.

He said, after the Tazreen Fashions fire and Rana Plaza building collapse, many positive steps were taken to make the workplace safer for workers and improve their living conditions in line with the demands from the international community.

"In 2015, we were supposed to harvest the

benefits of the reforms we have undertaken. But the political instability is failing us," Islam said, expressing doubt whether the sector would be able to reach its export target for 2014-15 with the current pace of growth.