DHAKA: Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) leaders Thursday said the US$12.35 billion industry was facing local and international conspiracies that emerged as a threat to the existence of the biggest export earner and employer for the country.  

“Negative reporting in the international media on country’s vast growing export sector has created a mess,” Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, acting President of the BGMEA, said while exchanging views with journalists representing foreign media in Dhaka.  

The BGMEA sat with the platform of journalists working for different overseas media titled Overseas Correspondents Association of Bangladesh (OCAB) at the BGMEA office. OCAB Vice-President Moslem Uddin Ahmed and General Secretary Amir Khasru were among others present.

The BGMEA acting president referred to a number of media reports, including one published in the Guardian newspaper, and said the reports contained faulty data that undermine the image of Bangladesh.

He categorically said that Bangladesh garment sector is now free from child labour.

Mohiuddin said their industrial sector also faces problems related to production, apart from international propaganda, such as shortage of energy and skilled hands, too.

“We are suffering from acute power and gas crises that halted production for hours. As a result, we fail to maintain shipment time,” he said.

The BGMEA leaders at the meet also highlighted different problems the Chittagong Port is plagued by, which caused cost overruns for shipping delays and expensive air transport as an alternative.


Mohiuddin said 20 percent capacity of the potential industry lies idle for lack of skilled manpower in the sector. “We have failed to create trained manpower.”

BGMEA vice-president Siddikur Rahman and Farook Hasan were among other leaders present at the programme.

BDST: 1635 HRS JULY 22, 2010