Bangladesh supply chains come to a halt

© Khunaspix Dreamstime.

While factory collapses have deservedly taken most of the headlines for companies sourcing in Bangladesh, there is another word that should be a cause of concern: “hartal”. First coined during the Indian independence movement to define a nationwide strike, hartals are increasingly commonplace in Bangladesh as a weapon used by opposition parties to put pressure on the government. The one currently under way has closed 16 inland container depots and almost completely removed freight traffic from roads. as truck operators fear being attacked.