We are worried about our expatriate garment workers trapped in Ethiopia's conflict-torn northern Tigray region as an escalating conflict has killed hundreds of civilians there recently. Reportedly, Ethiopia's central government launched a military operation in the northern Tigray region last week accusing the local TPLF ruling party of attacking the military bases. During the conflict, a Bangladeshi garment factory owned by DBL group had also been bombed. Although the employees of the factory are now safe, they need urgent assistance from the embassy to leave the region as there are risks of further violence in Tigray. 

The UN rights chief has warned that a protracted internal conflict will inflict devastating damage on both Tigray and Ethiopia as a whole and it could also spill across borders, potentially destabilising the whole sub-region. The UN has also warned that aid agencies are unable to restock food, health and other emergency supplies in the region which may trigger a refugee crisis. The DBL authorities are also concerned at the depleting food stock for its employees and requested the foreign ministry to relocate the workers from the conflict zone.

The DBL group, a leading Bangladeshi apparel exporter, has only started operating a knitwear factory in Ethiopia's Tigray region in 2018, encouraged by the duty benefits for exports from the African nation to the US markets. As their factory premises have been bombed and there are fears of further conflict, our government has little time in hand to relocate the workers to a safe place. We urge our embassy in Ethiopia to help relocate the 104 expatriate workers stranded in Tigray region as soon as possible.