RMG culprits warned

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the government would take punitive measures against the people, irrespective of workers and owners, responsible for unrest in the garment sector.

The government will conduct an investigation to find out the culprits behind the violence in the sector, she said as the chief guest while inaugurating the three-day 20th Bangladesh Apparel and Textile Exposition (BATEXPO)-09 at Hotel Sonargaon in the capital. At 86 stalls, a total of 62 companies from home and abroad participated in the fair to showcase their products.

The premier said, "We have noticed that vested quarters are trying to make chaos in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector. We will not allow evil-forces to be successful in creating anarchy in the sector."

She asked the owners to pay more attention to the workers' welfare as they are considered to be the driving force of the industry. She also mentioned that the government is planning to introduce industrial police and separate intelligence unit for the sector.

She asked the finance minister to take necessary measures to save 270 sick industries in this sector. The premier also directed the shipping minister to bring discipline in operation at the Chittagong Port.

The government would take measures to elevate the BGMEA Institute of Fashion and Technology (BIFT) to a university to meet the growing demand of skilled manpower in the sector.

Mentioning her government's development scheme as the development of rural economy Hasina asked the owners to employ more skilled people to reduce poverty.

Admitting the negative impact of global recession she said the government has already formed a taskforce committee to address the problems in the sector.

The PM said the owners should not to make profit only but to pay more attention to the workers.

Hasina also suggested exploring the potentialities of new apparel markets in Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and South Africa. "We should not restrict our markets only to the USA and the EU," she said.

The manufacturers should not rely only on making clothes, she said, adding that they should develop innovative designs to be more competitive in the global apparel market.

The scenario of the country's apparel sector will change a lot if Bangladesh can obtain duty-free and quota-free (DFQF) access to the US market, she said.

She asked the manufacturers to work to attain DFQF access in the US market, as the government will play a supportive role in this venture.

At his speech as the special guest, Finance Minister AMA Muhith said he would take measures to improve the sick industries. He suggested the entrepreneurs to go for loans form the government's housing fund to build dormitories for the workers.

He said at present the government gives Tk 1 crore as loan to set up effluent treatment plants (ETP) in the factories. "We have a plan to increase the loan amount in near future," he added.

LGRD (Local Government and Rural Development) and Cooperatives Minister Syed Ashraful Islam said female workers of rural areas now play an important role in the family, as they have become breadwinners with the rapidly growing RMG sector in the country.

In his speech BGMEA President Abdus Salam Murshedy demanded that the government increase incentives on total export performance, reschedule facilities for bank loan, improve of law and order and give 5 percent subsidy on bank interest rates.

Commerce Minister Faruk Khan, among others, spoke at the inaugural ceremony.