Online Report
Apparel sector leaders on Wednesday urged the interim government to take measures for keeping Chattogram port functional for 24 hours a day for smooth export-import activities.
Otherwise, factory owners would not take the responsibility to pay wages to workers ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, they said.
“Chattogram port is not functioning while Eid is approaching. We can’t import and export. Raw materials from China are arriving at the port within 14 days while it takes 18 days to reach goods to Dhaka,” said Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) former president Quazi Moniruzzaman.
So, how they do business if Chattogram port is not open for 24 hours, he said, warning that the owners would not take responsibility to pay wages and allowances to garment workers.
He said that the interim government might have many issues and address or reform them. “But not putting us in graves or destroying the industry.”
He said this in a city hotel while announcing the election manifesto of Sammilita Parishad, a panel that is contesting the BGMEA election slated for May 31 for the 2025-27 term.
Stressing the need of the port is functional for 24 hours, he said import and export activities should be going on, otherwise, industry owners cannot take the responsibility of paying garment workers before the Eid.
“If we cannot export, containers remain on the road, where do we get the money and give wages to the workers,” he questioned.
Meanwhile, the decision to abolish the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has sparked strong reaction in the revenue administration as officials have observing a pen-down strike since last week causing disruption to import and export activities.
Mr Moniruzzaman further said cars and houses of the garment industry owners are selling to clear wages of the workers which he termed ‘very sad, painful and also shameful’.
“We want to get rid of such shame,” he said, adding that is why they have long been demanding for a safe exit policy for such industry owners.
Labour and Employment Adviser M Sakhawat Hossain said last night that workers’ dues would be paid shortly by selling the land, houses, factories and other immovable properties owned by TNZ Group and Mahmud Group.
Unveiling the 12-point election manifesto at the event, Md Abul Kalam panel leader of Sammilita Parishad said, if elected, they would establish a dedicated SME (small and medium enterprises) cell at the BGMEA to address structural, financial and regulatory barriers faced by small-and medium-sized garment factories.
They would also continue to negotiate strongly with the government and utility service providers to ensure stable, uninterrupted access to gas and electricity for RMG factories, especially during the peak production season and advocate for an alternative incentive and benefit package to support factories affected by energy shortage.
Other proposals included measures for skill development of workers, mid-level managers, access to finance, market and product diversification, alternate incentive benefit policy for post-LDC competitiveness and backward linkage strengthening, trade facilitation and NBR reform, social compliance enhancement programme, developing unified code of conduct.
Mr Kalam, also managing director of Chaity Composite Ltd, highlighted the importance of apparel diplomacy and exit policy and said they would pursue a dual approach-apparel diplomacy to sustain long-term competitiveness and exit policy to support distressed factories in shutting down responsibly, protecting workers and enabling entrepreneurial recovery.
BGMEA former president Faruque Hassan, among others, also spoke at the programme.