Govt to fast-track textile solutions

A stall showcases textile products at Dhaka International Textile and Garment Machinery Exhibition that began at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre yesterday.Photo: Shafiq Alam

The government will move fast to address the problems of the textile and RMG manufacturers as it has got a specific proposal consisting of their demands, said Textiles and Jute Minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui yesterday.
He assured the textile and RMG makers of solving their problems within next week as the sector people submitted a package of proposal yesterday to the minister.
In the package proposal, the businesspeople demanded depreciation of the local currency against the dollar, a moratorium on loan payment for two years and taking effective measures to slap a ban on yarn import through illegal channels.
The assurance from the minister came at the inaugural ceremony of the four-day 6th Dhaka International Textile and Garment Machinery Exhibition-2009 at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Dhaka.
About illegal import of yarn through Benapole land port, Siddiqui said some unscrupulous businessmen are involved in such illegal trading.
"I will take the right decision about yarn import through Benapole land port," the minister told the inaugural function as chief guest.
At the inaugural session of the show Abdul Hai Sarker, president of Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), reiterated that the primary textile sector is under threat because of yarn import from India through illegal channels.
"I hope the government will take a right decision about the spinners for their survival amid competition," Sarker said.
He said more than 600 companies from over 30 countries are displaying their machinery and other textile accessories in more than 800 booths at the show, which will remain open to visitors from 12pm to 8pm without any entry fee.
BTMA and ES Event Management SDN BHD Malaysia have jointly organised the machinery fair, said Tiger Lin, vice president of Asian Federation of Exhibition and Convention Association.
After the inaugural session Sarker submitted the proposal comprising different demands of other related associations to the minister.
Talking to The Daily Star, Sarker said they also urged the government to give more than five percent cash incentive and research and development fund to the textile and RMG sector.
BSS adds: At a seminar on jute yesterday the minister said the local 'culprits', responsible for ruining the country's jute sector, should be identified to revive the past glory of the 'golden fibre'.
"There are allegations that foreign quarters are destroying our jute sector, but it is not possible without the help of local collaborators," he said.