"If we want to to boost our exports, the export market should be expanded on the other hand diversification of products is very important," Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina emphasized while Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) called on her at the Prime Minister's Office. PM addressed the BGMEA leaders to pay special effort to ensure the quality of the products today (Feb 11). Deputy Press Secretary of PM, KM Shakhawat Moon, told reporters in a media briefing that the BGMEA delegation briefed the prime minister about business, commerce, exports and current market situations. Notably, the BGMEA leaders pointed out some problems in trade and commerce caused by various reasons, along with current global situation, PM listened to them attentively and assured them that the detected problems will be solved soon.

President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Dr Rubana Huq urged the owners to consider closure of their factories as the nation is fighting to prevent the spread of coronavirus. In a message, she said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave specific guidance to fight COVID-19 and asked to take cautionary steps for the safety and wellbeing of everyone. “Following the Prime Minister, we should set an example as we are the largest industry of the country. We hope you will consider shutting down factories in due time,” she added. The BGMEA President said factories which want to make personal protective equipment (PPE) can remain open and their workers can move. She said people already donated fabrics and even more ready to make for free. Rubana said if anybody wants to keep factories open, they will have to ensure maximum safety and hygiene for their workers and take responsibility of their workers. Bangladesh, the second largest exporter of readymade goods after China, earns majority of its foreign currencies from this sector which employs more than four million people, mostly women. When coronavirus outbreak disrupted global supply chain and led to cancellation of orders and delay in shipment, the BGMEA turned to the government for help. So far, 959 factories reported 826.42 million pieces worth $2.67 billion export have either been cancelled or held up affecting an estimated 1.95 million workers. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday announced a stimulus package of Tk 5,000 crore for the export-oriented industry to overcome the impact of COVID-19. This money will be used for providing the salaries and wages of workers and employees only. Source: UNB AH

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called upon the country’s businesspersons to stay alert against the propaganda now being carried out against the government as this is ultimately affecting the businesses. “There are some people (in our country) who are out to conduct propaganda (against us) as part of their efforts to harm me politically. You (business community) should address it as you are being affected by it,” she said when a delegation of BGMEA called on her at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in the capital on Wednesday. Reports BSS. Mentioning that the garments sector has been playing a great role in the country’s development, the premier said, “You should give more importance to the diversification of products to boost exports further.” Referring to a meeting held in London with Bangladeshi envoys stationed in the European countries, the Prime Minister said she had asked the envoys to explore new markets for the Bangladeshi products. About the impact of Brexit on Bangladesh, she opined that Brexit will not hamper the business especially export of Bangladesh as the export related agreements with the foreign countries, particularly the European ones, will remain intact. Newly elected leaders of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), led by its president Dr Rubana Huq, met the Prime Minister at her office and put forwarded various demands before her. PM’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, former BGMEA presidents Anisur Rahman Sinha, Anwar-Ul-Alam Chowdhury Parvez, and Siddiqur Rahman, and first senior vice president Mohammad Abdus Salam and senior vice president Foysal Samad, among others, spoke on the occasion. Principal Secretary Md Nojibur Rahman and PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim were present. Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League president, said, “We are giving all possible facilities to the garments sector for its advancement as it has generated huge employments, particularly for women, and played a role in the country’s development.” “We have also given necessary supports to resolve the problems of the backward linkage industry,” she added. Describing Bangladesh as an agricultural country, said, “We want to develop the country in all fronts. We have to give emphasis on both agriculture and industrialization in the same manner as the overall development of the country will not be possible without industrialization.” In this context, the Prime Minister said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had initiated industrialization in the country. She, however, asked the BGMEA leaders not to set up industries beside roads rather to build those in the industrial zones. AH

Rubana Huq has taken charge as the first female president of Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA). She pledged for working with all for development of the industry. She took her charge at the new building of BGMEA at Uttara in the capital on Saturday afternoon. The other members of the newly elected committee also took charges from the outgoing committee members led by Siddiqur Rahman. Rubana Huq is the Managing Director of Mohammadi Group and Nagorik Television. She is wife of former mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation and former president of FBCCI late Annisul Huq. The election for the posts of directors was held on April 6. In the election the Sammilita Forum Panel led by Rubana Huq won all the 26 posts in Dhaka region. Earlier the same panel won 9 posts of directors in Chattogram region without contest. AH

Rajdhani Unnayan Katripakkha (RAJUK) has sealed the building of Bangladesh Garments Manufactures and Exporters Association (BGMEA) which was illegally erected on Hatirjheel in the capital. The building was sealed after 7 pm on Tuesday by a team led by RAJUK Chief Engineer ASM Raihanul Ferdous. At that time he said, after sealing the building the electricity, telephone and other connections will be disconnected. The glasses will be removed. After that the building will be broken by dynamite demolition. On Tuesday RAJUK gave two hours time to vacate the building which ended at 12 pm. Later RAJUK extended the period till 5 pm following request from BGMEA. Again the time was extended for more two hours till 7 pm. After that the building was sealed. Earlier, Executive Magistrate Jesmin Akter told the newsmen that it’s a 16-storey building with two basements. It will take one week to demolish the building. At first part by part decoration will be removed and then the building will be demolished by using dynamites. RAJUK Director (Administration) Khondoker Oliur Rahman said, vacating the building is a part of demolition work. There are technical and management related matters, we will begin the demolition work after completing those formalities. Chinese experts will cooperate us.    The order to demolish the BGMEA building came from the High Court due to non availability of rights of land and for violating the water reservoir preservation law. The court imposed deadline for BGMEA authority to leave the building by April 12. On April 3, 2011 the High Court in a verdict mentioned the building as like cancer on Hatirjheel project and ordered to demolish it within 90 days. BGMEA filed leave to appeal against the order which was rejected in the Appellate Division on June 2, 2016. At last, the High Court fixed time till April 12 to vacate the building. RAJUK stepped in to implement the court directions after stipulated time was over. BGMEA used four floors of the 16-storey building situated at Karwan Bazar. The rest of the spaces were sold to some companies including two banks. But ownership was not handed over due to legal complexities. There is a luxurious ‘Apparel Club’ on the top two floors of the building. Meanwhile, construction work of five floors of the 13-storey BGMEA Complex was completed on 110 kathas of land at Uttara in the capital. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the own building of BGMEA. Official activities of BGMEA are going on at two floors of the building. AH       

Garments owners’ top organization BGMEA’s building that was erected on Hatirjheel in the capital, will be demolished using dynamites. While leading the eviction drive on Tuesday afternoon RAJUK Executive Magistrate Jesmin Akter delivered the information to the newsmen. Jesmin Akter said, it needs one week time to demolish the building. We will conduct the work using modern technology dynamites. Our preparations are going on accordingly. She said, demolition activities will begin from today (Tuesday). At first we have allocated time to remove their goods. They are shifting their goods. After shifting goods we will begin our demolition work. We will remove decoration part by part. After that, using dynamites the building will be demolished. At around 9 am on Tuesday RAJUK officers and employees went to the 16-storey building along with law enforcers. There were modern equipments along with them to demolish the building. Two hours time was given to remove goods from the building. Later one more hour was extended. The order to demolish the BGMEA building came from the High Court due to non availability of rights of land and for violating the water reservoir preservation law. The court imposed deadline for BGMEA authority to leave the building by April 12. On April 3, 2011 the High Court in a verdict mentioned the building as like cancer on Hatirjheel project and ordered to demolish it within 90 days. BGMEA filed leave to appeal against the order which was rejected in the Appellate Division on June 2, 2016. At last the High Court fixed time till April 12 to vacate the building. RAJUK stepped in to implement the court directions after stipulated time was over. AH  

In the Bangladesh Garments Manufactures and Exporters Association (BGMEA) polls the Sammilita Forum led by Rubana Huq has won all the 35 posts of directors. Rubana Huq is the Managing Director of Mohammadi Group and wife of late mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation Annisul Huq. The voting took place at BGMEA bhaban at Karwan Bazar area in the capital from 8 am to 4 pm on Saturday. After the voting BGMEA election conducting board declared the result. After the voting one of the board members Barrister Nuhad Kabir said, voting was completed in a fair and peaceful manner. 1492 votes were cast out of 1956 voters and of those 99 votes were cancelled. Voting rate is 76.27 percent. The winner directors are-Rubana Haque, SM Mannan, Faisal Samad, Mohammad Nasir, Asif Ibrahim, Arshad Jamal, MA Rahim, KM Rafiqul Islam, Shahidul Haque, Mashiul Azam, Inamul Haque Khan, Masud Kader, Iqbal Hamid Koraishi, Nasir Uddin, Kamal Uddin, Sajjadur Rahman Mridha, Rezwan Selim, Munir Hossain, AKM Badiul Alam, Miran Ali, Abdul Momen, Mosharraf Hossain Dhali, Shihab Uddoza Chowdhury, Mahiuddin Rubel, Sharif Jahir and Nazrul Islam. The winner under this panel from Chattogram region- Abdus Salam, AM Chowdhury, AM Mahbub Chowdhury, Enamul Aziz Chowdhury, Mohammad Atiq, Khondoker Belayet Hossain, Anjan Shekhar Das, Mohammad Musa and Meraj-e-Mostafa. In the biennial election for 2019-21 tenure 53 candidates took part in the election for 35 director posts. The voting was held for 26 posts as 9 candidates from Chattogram were elected uncontested. There 44 candidates competed. Of them 26 from Sammilita Forum, 17 from Swadhinata Parishad and one independent candidates. According to BGMEA election conducting board, the elected directors will elect president, senior vice president and vice president through votes on April 18. Later the existing committee will hand over responsibility to the new elected BGMEA committee on April 21. Swadhinata Parishad panel led by Design and Source Managing Director Jahangir Alam was the lone competitor of Sammilita Forum in the election. AH      

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has urged the protesting workers of the readymade garments factory to return to workplace by Monday. BGMEA President Md Siddiqur Rahman made the urge at a press conference organized on Sunday at the BGMEA Building in the capital's Karwan Bazar. He also uttered warning saying that workers will not be paid the salaries if they do not return to the workplace by the stipulated time. The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin and senior officials of BGMEA were present at the press meet. Garment workers have been continuing the movement for several days, demanding a change in their new wage structure.   MHK

Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) president Siddiqur Rahman said, the new wage framework will be implemented from December according to the previous rules. It is confirmed. He said this after holding fourth meeting of the minimum wage board at Topkhana road in the capital on Monday. The BGMEA president said, policy level discussion was held in the fourth meeting to fix minimum wage. Another meeting was called as we could not reach to a decision. The matter of wage fixing can be finalized in the next meeting. We all are trying to maintain the capability of the industry and necessity of the workers. He said, we have time till October 17 and the wage board fixed salaries will be active from December of the current year. At that time minimum wage board Chairman senior judge Syed Aminul Islam said, to fix the wages final proposal will be sent to the government from the board on October 17. Then it will go for labor ministry vetting. The fifth meeting will be held on 12th September. Decision will be taken on minimum wage there. Later it will be sent to labor ministry on October 17. After scrutinize the ministry will sent it to the concerned authority. Then the final declaration will be given on increased salaries. He also said, we will consider the capability of the owners as well as will give importance on workers’ demand. Nothing will be imposed by pressure on anybody to fix the wages. In the third meeting of the wage board on July 16 proposal was given to fix minimum wage 12 thousand 20 taka from the workers and from the owners the proposal was 6 thousand 3 hundred taka. At that time the workers rejected the increased wages. AH      

The apex organization of readymade garments businessmen BGMEA proposed to fix taka 6,360 as minimum wage for the garments workers. President of the organization Siddiqur Rahman said that this wage was fixed considering the inflation. His proposal came in at the third meeting of the minimum wage commission on Monday. Minimum wage commission chairman Syed Aminul Islam was present in the meeting. Workers leader Begum Shamsunnahar Bhuiyan among others was present on behalf of the workers. Proposal was made from the workers to fix 12,020 taka as the total minimum wage for the garments workers. The new wage frame work was made considering the livelihood expense of workers, quality, production cost, inflation, types of work, risk and quality, business ability and other socio economic affairs. Meanwhile, Garment Workers Trade Union held human chain program in front of minimum wage board office at Paltan in the capital for their demand of fixing minimum wage 16,000 taka. BGMEA president Siddiqur Rahman said, 11 matters are considered to fix the wage of workers. No exception was made this time. We proposed wage 6,360 taka for the worker of minimum grade 7th. Later wages for other grades will be increased gradually. Workers leader Shamsunnahar Bhuiyan said, some organizations proposed to fix minimum wage 16,000 taka and some other 18,000 taka. But in our country qualifications are not the same for all garments workers. New technologies have come in this sector. Experienced people are needed in this regard. So we want that any inexperienced person becomes jobless. Besides, capacity of providing wages for all of our factories is not the same. We hope that wage commission will consider the matters. AH