Mozena warns of a storm brewing in RMG
US Ambassador Dan W Mozena yesterday warned the country's readymade garment industry of a possible storm stemming from recent unrest in the sector.
Many US buyers have already expressed concern for the reputation of their brands, as Bangladesh is a massive supplier of apparel items to the US, he said.
“I have been contacted by a huge number of US buyers who expressed concerns over the reputation of the garment products of Bangladesh,” Mozena told the reporters after a meeting with Finance Minister AMA Muhith at the latter's secretariat office.
“A possible perfect storm might threaten the country's RMG sector for reasons such as labour rights, labour organisations and particularly the killing of labour leader Aminul Islam in early April,” Mozena said.
The US buyers are worried, as recent unrest in the garment sector is tarnishing their good reputation, he said.
“I have already shared the concerns of the US buyers with the leaders of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association and Bangladesh Frozen Food Exporters Association,” Mozena said.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will discuss the Grameen Bank issue at the US-Bangladesh partnership dialogue meeting to be held in Washington in September, Mozena said.
He said the US wants the government to settle the Grameen Bank issue in a fair and transparent manner.
Mozena said he also discussed the national budget proposed last week and the ways of revenue collection with Muhith. “We also discussed Bangladesh's sovereign credit rating by the S&P.”
Comments