They urged political leaders to refrain from any activities that can affect export, import and production, and dent Bangladesh's image abroad.

"We are very concerned at the present political environment and deteriorating law and order. Our buyers are also too worried," said Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Quazi Moniruzzaman at a press briefing at his office yesterday.

"RMG buyers had shifted their orders from Sri Lanka to Bangladesh due to political unrest there. And we are now getting the same sorry signal as of Sri Lanka from the present political state."

"We can't allow some people to toy with our investments and labour anymore. We can't afford hartal and deterioration of law and order," the BGMEA president said.

Some buyers have become familiar with the political unrest here, but that will hardly have any softening effect on the murky garment sector after 2004, fear exporters.

As there will be no quota after December this year, the RMG sector that contributes more than 75 percent to export earnings will face serious setback in attracting new buyers, he observed.

Members of parliament receive fat salaries and privileges, and ministers roam around with escorts because of the money the entrepreneurs pay in taxes, he said.

"If we can't run our factories without disruption, these (privileges) should also not continue," said Moniruzzaman, adding that political culture needs to be changed and politicians should be more tolerant to each other.

Vietnam and Cambodia have thrown real challenge to Bangladesh's apparel aspiration.

The BGMEA boss said there is no such disruptive political programme in these countries, for which exporters there produce their goods hassle-free.

India is a country of 1.15 billion people but they don't have political unrest like Bangladesh, he added. "Our image would have been better if we could take lessons from these countries."

Garment exporters will require to reduce lead-time and production cost to stay in the business during quota-free environment but we are still far away from taking on that challenge, he said.

Small and medium industries will find it hard to survive and political unrest is going to make their struggle all the more complicated, he added.

The economy might fall right on its face and social life will turn darker if the RMG sector dates with disaster, he warned.

Garment exports stood at $200 billion in 2002, and it should notch $350 billion business in 2007. He said that Bangladesh should focus on increasing its stake, which is only 2.32 percent now, in the global RMG exports.

Moniruzzaman also reiterated the BGMEA demands for establishing a central bonded warehouse, increasing the handling capacity at the Chittagong Port, implementing New Mooring container terminal project fast and transforming the Bangladesh missions into the export promotion centres.

BGMEA First Vice President SM Nurul Haque, Anisul Haque, Alamgir Rahman, directors and other association leaders were present at the briefing.