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Multiple garment factories located in Gazipur, Savar and Narayanganj — three of Bangladesh’s most critical manufacturing belts — have temporarily suspended operations.
The Bangladesh police force, according to multiple accounts, is no longer functioning as it did earlier. (Image: PTI)
There has been a sharp deterioration in Bangladesh’s economic activity and internal security. CNN-News18 has accessed a situation report on Bangladesh detailing widespread labour unrest and a breakdown of law and order begin to paralyse key industrial and commercial hubs across the country.
Multiple garment factories located in Gazipur, Savar and Narayanganj — three of Bangladesh’s most critical manufacturing belts — have temporarily suspended operations. Factory managements are citing worker safety concerns, transport disruptions and growing insecurity as primary reasons for the shutdowns. These closures are significant, given that the garment sector remains the backbone of Bangladesh’s export-driven economy.
Industrial units linked to the Bashundhara Group, along with allied logistics hubs, have also reduced shifts or halted production as a precautionary measure. Sources indicate that disruptions in supply chains, uncertainty over night-time transport and fears of sabotage have forced companies to operate well below capacity.
The ripple effects are being felt beyond manufacturing. Fuel depots, transport companies and cold storage facilities in the outskirts of Dhaka have suspended night operations altogether, citing security risks and the absence of assured policing. This has further worsened logistical bottlenecks, affecting the movement of goods and essential supplies, the report states.
Retail and wholesale trade is also under pressure. Shopping malls and wholesale markets in parts of Dhaka and Chattogram are shutting early amid fears of vandalism, arson and mob violence. Business owners say footfall has dropped sharply, while operating after dark is increasingly viewed as unsafe.
Export-oriented small and medium enterprises dealing in leather goods, plastics and light engineering products have stopped dispatches, particularly due to port-side uncertainty and acute labour shortages. Several exporters fear that prolonged disruptions could lead to cancelled international orders and long-term damage to Bangladesh’s credibility as a reliable supplier.
Parallel to the economic slowdown, the law and order situation has visibly deteriorated. Local intelligence assessments accessed by CNN-News18 warn that conditions are likely to worsen after evening hours. Multiple political parties and extremist groups have reportedly become more active, exploiting the vacuum created by weak enforcement.
Sources further indicate that Islamic militant organisations are attempting to capitalise on the instability, using the unrest as cover to expand influence. Alarmingly, army sources speak of growing frustration and discontent within the ranks, reflecting broader institutional stress.
The police force, according to multiple accounts, is no longer functioning as it did earlier. There are allegations that the government has instructed police not to act decisively against student protesters and rioters. In many instances, police personnel are accused of remaining passive spectators, further emboldening disruptive elements.
December 19, 2025, 14:59 IST
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