Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman has described the ongoing unrest in Bangladesh’s garment sector as deeply concerning, urging all parties to exercise restraint and calling on the government to take responsible steps to protect both factory owners and workers.

He also said the crisis could be addressed by ensuring an uninterrupted electricity supply and increasing production.

The opposition leader shared his position in a verified Facebook post on Sunday.

In his statement, Shafiqur Rahman said the country’s leading export sector was going through a difficult period due to several challenges, including the government’s failure to ensure uninterrupted power supply, high fuel prices, rising production costs and uncertainty in the global market.

He also pointed to the cancellation or withdrawal of export orders and the difficulty of securing orders at previous levels as factors putting additional pressure on the readymade garment industry.

At the same time, he said workers employed in the sector were facing growing financial hardship due to rising house rents, the cost of essential goods, transportation expenses and medical bills.

The Jamaat chief urged the government to take immediate and sustainable measures to address the problems affecting the industry and prevent further deterioration.

He said ensuring a reliable electricity supply and increasing production would create opportunities to address the other challenges through reasonable consideration and practical solutions.

“Saving the industry means saving not only its owners but also the country,” he wrote.

Shafiqur Rahman stressed that the government must act responsibly to protect both industrial entrepreneurs and the workforce employed in the sector.

He also called on all stakeholders to show restraint and demonstrate a sense of responsibility in their respective positions.

Warning of the wider economic consequences, he said any failure to address the crisis could push the country’s already fragile economy towards collapse.

He emphasised that there was no room for delay in taking action.