, Dec. 12 -- Leaders in Bangladesh's spinning industry on Thursday urged the government to take immediate measures to protect the sector from what they described as a "deepening crisis," which has already forced nearly 40% of factories to shut down and rendered more than 100,000 workers jobless.

"We have international quality, qualified manpower and capacity to ensure full support to the garment sector. If the government fails to take immediate action, we will take to the streets to restore," he said.

The appeal came at a press conference in Dhaka, where Salma Group CEO Azhar Ali presented a set of proposals on behalf of workers, employees and officials associated with the spinning sector.

Industry representatives said the spinning sec...