(Dhaka,8 December 2014) Dhaka Apparel Summit, 1st of its kind in Bangladesh, is being held at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center on 7-9 December 2014. The summit was organized by Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) in collaboration with Brand Forum Bangladesh.
Press Release- Session 8
The 8th session of the Dhaka Apparel Summit titled “Bangladesh RMG 2021 - Partnering Media in Development” was held at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) in Dhaka on 8 December.

The session focused on the importance of industry and nation branding for the progress of the garment industry in Bangladesh. The discussions shed light on finding a holistic/national approach toward branding Bangladesh and its apparel industry and bring all the critical stakeholders on the same boat.

Opinions:

Mahfuz Anam, Editor–Publisher, The Daily Star, said that the media of Bangladesh is playing a positive role in the development of the RMG industry. The vision of taking RMG exports from 25 billion to $50 billion is doable and achievable. “You have to be tolerant of criticism. We do not criticize you to hurt rather criticism is to make you better and better.” There is a lot for media to learn. There are fabulous success stories inside BGMEA and in the industry but no one told me that before. BGMEA can work with media to tell those stories. BGMEA should have the capacity to send the correction to any news that contains wrong information. To achieve the target of $50 billion is struggle of an efficient industry and the media want to be part of that struggle.
Magnus Schmid, Project Coordinator, PSES, GIZ, said that there are several good practices in a good number of factories in Bangladesh. Tomorrow is the GIZ’s Environment Excellent Award where at least nine good stories of garment factories will be highlighted. These stories should be told by the media. Bangladesh has many beautiful places like Cox’s Bazar, tea gardens of Sylhet etc. These should told by the media.
Abdus Salam Murshedy, former president, BGMEA, said that we have a good relationship with media. However, there is some miscommunication with the media. For example, when there are some sorts of hesitation regarding any issue, sometimes media people make reports without taking correct information from us.
Shirin Akhter MP, President of Karmojibi Nari, said that the role of media on conspiracies against the sector is very important. The media should make people aware of conspiracies to make us alert. If the stories of compliant factories come to the media, it will help the industry more.
Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said that Rana Plaza is not the story of Bangladesh, we have factories with best practices.

Recommendations:
Avedis H. Seferian, President & CEO, Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP), said that media should be reflection of society. Media people should be very careful because their tool is very powerful. It is necessary to tell worthwhile story and media should decide to publish them.
Dhyana van der Pols, Head of Nash International, Head of Textile Innovation, Sourcing & Manufacturing, WFSGI; & Key Partner, International Apparel Federation (IAF), said that the industry should bridge the knowledge gap between buyers and manufacturers.

Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, Editor-in-Chief & Chief Executive Officer, Boishakhi Television, moderated the session.

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, Shirin Akhter MP, President of Bangladesh Jatiya Sramik Jote, Mohammad Fazlul Azim, Former Member of Parliament, Abdus Salam Murshedy, former president, BGMEA, Mahfuz Anam, Editor–Publisher, The Daily Star, Magnus Schmid, Project Coordinator, PSES, GIZ, Avedis H. Seferian, President & CEO, Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP), Muzaffar U Siddique, Founder Chairman, Board of Trustees BGMEA University of Fashion & Technology (BUFT), and Dhyana van der Pols, Head of Nash International, Head of Textile Innovation, Sourcing & Manufacturing, WFSGI; & Key Partner, International Apparel Federation (IAF), took part in the session as panel speakers.