Garment makers bash media

Garment factory owners yesterday came down hard on the media for "exaggerating" the November 24 Ashulia fire incident and thus denting their good name.
Participating in an Extraordinary General Meeting of the BGMEA at its auditorium in the capital, the apparel makers vented their anger on the press for what they said was lopsided coverage of the Ashulia tragedy that claimed at least 111 lives and injured more than 100 others.
However, at the same meeting, leaders of the Leaders of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association took the responsibility for the tragedy and said they were sorry for it. "We could not identify 53 people among those died…. We apologise to the nation for this," said Faruque Hassan, vice-president of BGMEA.
Falcon Group Director Mahtabuddin Ahmed is one of those who launched a scathing attack on the media, saying the media was "inciting" the nation through spreading propaganda about Saturday's blaze.
He also expressed his interest in hiring at a high salary The New Age Editor Nurul Kabir and Dhaka University Prof Asif Nazrul, who spoke strongly against a section of apparel businessmen in a recent television talk show.
If Nurul and Asif are not interested in the garment job, Ahmed added, his group would give his company shares to them to make them owners so that they can have practical experience in garment business.
“If necessary I am ready to award them 25 percent share of my company for running garment business,” he said, bitterly criticising the talk show.
During his media bashing, Mahtab was once stopped by BGMEA president Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, who was chairing the meeting.
"No criticism, speak of self-realisation. Talk about our own problems," Shafiul added.
Thus cautioned, Ahmed then said the media people should have proper knowledge on garment business to be able to write good reports on the sector.
Contacted, The New Age editor said he would not make any comment before the news is published.
But Asif Nazrul, who teaches law, described Ahmed's remarks as "scarecrow".
He said that over the past few years the nation had been noticing two things -- whenever an accident happens, garment owners conceal the truth and speak of conspiracy.
Moreover, the owners never take the responsibility, he added.