Former Commerce Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury urged BGMEA to develop itself as a strong self-regulatory body for retaining GSP facilities and availing huge scope for increasing export volume of the Ready Made Garment (RMG) sector.
He suggested that BGMEA leaders should reduce dependency on government while urging political leaders within or outside the government to take ‘painful decision’ for the sake of growth of RMG sector.
Amir Khasru was addressing the concluding ceremony of Chittagong Apparel, Fabrics and Accessories Exposition (CAFAXPO) here in the port city on Friday afternoon.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters’ Association (BGMEA) organised the three-day exposition on the premises of Chittagong Zila Krira Sangstha Gymnasium Complex.
He urged the BGMEA leaders to take initiatives to ensure safety and welfare of workers, develop worker-management relationship and maintain compliance standard strictly in all the garment factories.
BGMEA President Shafiqul Islam, who presided over the closing ceremony, said BGMEA and Fire Service Department are now jointly holding fire drills to strengthen fire safety measures.
Regarding the GSP facilities, he said, “If USA withdraws the facilities and other buyers also follow the economic giant, then it would seriously affect our RMG sector.”
“At present 75 percent of the fabrics for woven factories are imported from China and India and we need to find alternative sources or producing such fabrics within the country to retain the GSP facilities,” he said.
In his welcome address, BGMEA First Vice-President called for an end to political unrest so that RMG sector can continue creating employment for over 2 lakh people every year alongside contributing to the national economy.