Bangladesh garment factories to western buyers: You can rely on us

livemint.com:

In recent weeks, Bangladeshi garment-factory owners have been on the phone with Western clothing brands, making the case that their country is a stable link in their supply chains. It has been a tricky sell. The world’s second largest garment producer has been rocked in recent weeks by protests and instability triggered by anger over grim employment prospects.

The turbulence followed large-scale wage protests last year that were marked by violence. This time around, an industry body for the $38 billion clothing-export sector estimates the exporters have lost six days of production because of unrest that erupted in mid-July, though other factory owners say the loss is closer to twice that much time. “It is not a massive body blow by any means," said Miran Ali, vice president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association.

On Sunday, deadly clashes killed at least 85 people, after weeks of tumultuous demonstrations that led the government to impose curfews and cut off the internet. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country. Police have left their posts, and businesses associated with the old government were targeted by mobs.

Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel laureate and economist who pioneered microcredit, took charge of a caretaker government Thursday and appealed for calm. “We are one family," he said. Congestion on roads and a minimal police presence mean some factory owners have decided to delay shipping finished clothes.

A small number of factories were burned by arsonists during the turmoil. With the situation now stabilizing, many factory owners say they have managed to get their factories back up and running, and workers have been eager to return to work and earn their paychecks. With