To be, or not to be, that is the question, the famous opening phrase of a monologue in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The protagonist, Prince Hamlet asks himself whether he should continue to live or not? Similarly, after the recent Savar Rana Plaza tragedy, the question is being asked as to whether or not the garment industry should remain in Bangladesh
After such a catastrophic incident, with emotions running high, many of us have fast concluded that the garments industry in Bangladesh should be abolished. Some people don’t think that is necessary as the industry will self-destruct soon enough, just like the jute industry, that once produced our “golden fibre.”
However, I personally believe that abolishing the garment industry, on account of poor working conditions and benefits for the workers, is equivalent to cutting off your head from the neck up because of a sore throat. The garment industry and the remittance industry (where poor, unskilled Bangladeshi workers from all over the world send money back home) bring home, by far, the largest share of foreign currency to our country, which is essential for the nation’s economy.
The garment industry, like all industries, has its share of problems, problems that need to be addressed. No industry in Bangladesh is perfect. It is just a question of scale. If the processed food industry in our country was nearly as big as the RMG industry, the problems in it would have been more prominent in that field: it’s simple math!
So, just like you wouldn’t cut off your right hand because of a localised rash, we should not, cut off a hand and let this industry die a slow death. We should find the root problems behind the incidents like the Rana Plaza collapse, the Tazreen Garments fire, and incidents of the sort.
I believe that the practice of rampant corruption, much like it has negatively contributed to many other fields, is to blame. Some building inspector allowed Rana Plaza to be built in spite of its faults. The building has only drawn attention due to the recent incident. Other buildings, hundreds and thousands of them, all over Bangladesh do not meet the required building codes and are hence susceptible to such mishaps.
Whoever allowed these buildings to be built, without meeting requirements, are to be blamed.
These people have engaged in corruption, whether or not money changed hands, for not doing their work properly, and hence should be severely punished.
As should be evident by now, I insist that the garment industry, which practically runs the country, must stay. Do not punish it for a sin it has not committed; please do not let it die a slow death. For God’s sake, please don’t!
Mahdin Mahboob teaches Engineering at ULAB.