Apparel manufacturers and exporters yesterday raised question about the export data released recently as it showed robust growth despite the ongoing political crisis and industrial unrest in the country.
“The recent trend of UDs (utilisation declarations) and factory performance does not go with the export data released by the Export Promotion Bureau,” said Faruque Hassan, former BGMEA vice president.
Ordering trend in the factory and the UD shows downtrend in last few months, but the export data showed healthy growth.
“That’s why I think, there might have flaws in the calculation of export data,” said Hassan.
He made the remarks at a function of providing financial supports for the victims of Smart Export Garment Limited – the fund was provided by Spanish retailer Inditex and UK retailer Newlook.
Bangladesh’s readymade garment exports have seen a 30% jump to US$1,767m in November as compared to US$1,364m of the same period last year.
In November 2013, Bangladesh exported knitwear products worth US$878m while it fetched $889m by exporting woven products, which is 34% and 25% higher respectively compared to the same period last year.
Inditex and Newlook provided Tk5 lakh to three injured workers while it gave Tk15,000 each to 264 workers as three-month salary. The global buyers also provided over Tk5 lakh and Tk4 lakh to two victims of Spectrum Garments respectively.
“July-November export data does not reflect the present industry situation,” Abdus Salam Murshedy, president of Exporters Association of Bangladesh (EAB), told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.
“There might have flaws in the data compilation.”
“I could not ship my products and cannot bring raw material for production due to political unrest.
But the government data has shown 21% growth in July-November period in RMG, which is unrealistic,” said a factory owner, wishing anonymity.
He claimed the government showed inflated data to escape from shouldering the impact of political unrest.
Whatever they may say based on their perception, but data speaks itself, EPB Vice Chairman Shubhashish Bose, however, said earlier.
