Exports rise 5pc in Feb

Exports rose 5.46 percent year-on-year to $2.51 billion in February, buoyed by increased shipment of garments, according to central bank data.

Earnings in the first eight months (July-February) of the fiscal year were $20.31 billion, which were $17.80 billion till January.

The figures show a positive trend as the country is receiving payments for goods that were shipped earlier.

“We are now facing difficulties exporting goods for political unrest,” said Atiqul Islam, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association.

The negative impact of the political turmoil will be noticed in the next two or three months, as garment makers are now bagging fewer work orders from retailers, he added.

Retailers are also cancelling their trips to Bangladesh for the unrest, he said. Garment makers have already demanded fiscal and policy support from the government, as production was hampered by unrest.