Leader of the Opposition and BNP chief Khaleda Zia urged the government to roll out a financial stimulus package to pull the apparel sector out of downturn, reports bdnews24.com.

Khaleda, addressing the closing ceremony of the BATEXPO-2009, demanded measures to improve law and order and to ensure the right environment to facilitate the readymade garment business's growth and competitiveness in the global market.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith in April unveiled a Tk 34.24 billion stimulus package for the last quarter of the 2008-2009 fiscal year to help deal with the impact of global financial meltdown on the country's economy.

But the apparel exporters who cried for government's help to face "unprecedented" challenges got no allocation of any additional incentives under that package.

"The package was designed, ignoring the garments sector, to assist agriculture, power and export sectors. But the reality is the aid is yet to reach," the former Prime Minister said.

"I'm placing my demand to the government so that the sector gets a piece of the package," the BNP chairperson said at the function at a city hotel.

Khaleda demanded measures to improve security to facilitate the readymade garment business's growth and competitiveness in the global market.

She also demanded formation of industrial police and intelligence force for the garments sector, which the government says are under consideration.

The former prime minister was also concerned about the recent unrest in the sector and said conspirators are trying to create chaos to destabilise the sector.

"It's the government's duty to ensure proper law and order in the sector. But we do not see any reflection of their tough-sounding attitude," she said.

She did not rule out involvement of 'foreign hand' and inciting of the neighbouring countries in the recent violence.