Textile and apparel sector leaders on Monday placed a 20-point demand, including rescheduling facilities for classified loans, increasing the repayment tenure of term loans and cash incentives against the cost of Freight on Board,before Finance Minister AMA Muhith to cope with the losses incurred due to political unrest.

At a meeting with leaders of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) at the secretariat, the finance minister assured them of looking into the demands.

Apparel exporters demanded some short-term policy support for the export-oriented sectors, including continuation of the present rate of tax at source for next five years, special incentives against all kinds of export for three years, 3 per cent cash incentives for the exporters who export to EU markets considering the devaluation of Euro and supply of diesel and petrol at special rate for the transport sector engaged in transportation of export goods.
BGMEA President Md. Atiqul Islam in a power-point presentation described the present situation of the garment sector.
He said that the sector is going to face a big challenge in the international arena as the ongoing political situation is having impacts on the competitive edge of Bangladesh.
Former BGMEA President Abdus Salam Murshedy placed the demands before the finance minister and requested to meet the demands related to financing and banking policy immediately to recover the damages caused due to ongoing political turmoil.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith said, ‘I am concerned over the situation. We have to do something for the businessmen. We will decide the next course of action through discussions with other ministers.
FBCCI President KaziAkram Uddin Ahmed, among others, was present at the meeting.