Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has termed the fire incident at Standard Group as “sabotage.”
“It is a complete act of sabotage aimed to create anarchy in the readymade garment sector. All groups including workers, trade union leaders and vested quarters are involved in torching the Standard Group,” BGMEA president Atiqul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune on Friday.
On Thursday night, hearing rumour of death of two fellow garment workers, hundreds of RMG workers of Standard Garments factory set fire to two 10-storiead buildings of Standard Group in Gazipur.
Atiqul said: “This would send a negative message to the world and tarnish our image. The country has to face dire consequence like Srilanka.”
The BGMEA will hold a meeting on Sunday at 12noon with chiefs of all trade bodies including the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), to devise ways to overcome the present turmoil that recently the sector had witnessed, said Atiq.
“We will decide on the next course of action after holding the meeting in line with the recommendations made by trade body’s leaders,” he added.
Regarding the state of the factory, Islam said the factory was a 100 percent compliant one and there was no reason for unrest as the factory owners had provided all the necessary facilities to the workers. “The incident would leave 1800 workers in dark as they would lose their jobs and we do not have the capacity to create jobs for such a huge number of people at a time.”
“On behalf of the country’s apparel makers, I urge the government to take punitive and protective measures to save the highest foreign currency earning sector from the hands of evil,” said Islam.
BGMEA Vice-President Shahidullah Azim told the present time was not favourable to run business as there was no control over the situation and none could handle the unruly workers.
