“It is time to look inwards and not only to concentrate on the West but also explore ASEAN-plus-one or regional collaboration so that we can export within the region and beyond.”The sector was turning around from the fallout with the recovery but the second wave posed a new threat. Despite the growth in August and September, the second wave has pushed the sector back by multiple folds now. In the European market, consumption had dropped by 13 per cent in November; in the US it was 16 per cent. Though the government offered a package, it is not enough to cope with the second wave. Huq also demanded an extension of the current package tenure to five years and moratorium of up to 12 months.

Source: Dhaka Tribune January 02, 2021 19:40 UTC