The county’s apparel makers will meet Finance Minister AMA Muhith at his secretariat office today to place a series of demands for recovering the losses they have so far incurred in the wake of the ongoing countrywide political violence.
The demands include deferred payment of loans, rescheduling of terms loans and other incentives.
“We will meet the Finance Minister today to appraise him about the current situation in the RMG sector and to place a set of demands to cope up with the losses incurred due to political unrest since January 5,” Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Md Atiqul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.
He said, “Our demands will include deferred payment of loans to keep our CIB (Credit Information Bureau) record good, rescheduling of terms loans for five years, incentives against euro zone export.’’
The Coordination Committee for Clothing Sector, which was formed to devise ways to face the ongoing political crisis, prepared the charter of demands in line with the recommendations made by the sector people.
The business team, which will be led by BGMEA President, includes representatives from Bangladesh Textile Mills Association, BGMEA, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, and other related sectors.
“We will urge the minister to offer us the incentives as soon as possible as it will help us to recover from the losses incurred due to political unrest,’’ BGMEA Vice President Shahidullah Azim said.
He also opined that if the incentives were released immediately, it would help the exporters especially the small and medium ones to turnaround from the losses.
“We will seek incentives against the export to the EU markets to continue business with the EU countries as prices of Euros came down sharply in recent times,” said Azim.