Khaleda calls for quick power, gas supplies to RMG sector

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FE Team | Published: December 14, 2012 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

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FE Report
Leader of the Opposition in parliament and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia Thursday underscored the need for a national movement to uphold democracy in the country.
The former prime minister made the call at the closing ceremony of Batexpo against the demand raised by garments makers to shun hartal permanently as part of political activities.
The garment makers demanded of the opposition leader to avoid calling strikes as a political weapon in the greater interest of the sector which has potentials to make the country economically sovereign.
But Khaleda Zia said the present government wants to introduce one party rule again by suppressing opposition leaders and activists and in order to face it a national movement against the government is essential.
"The country is now beset with multifarious crisis. The garment industry is not out of the crisis. The ruling part looted billions of taka by appointing political activists in state owned financial institutions, they looted money in the name of multilevel marketing companies. They siphoned off billions of taka from capital market and by setting up rental power plants. The banks are suffering a liquidity crisis because of the wholesale misappropriation," Khaleda told the closing ceremony of BATEXPO 2012 held at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre. She said the nation is passing through a critical juncture of its history.
"If the government and the opposition party can reach a consensus that they would not use hartal as a political weapon the sector can earn US$45 billion by 2020 and the country could turn into a middle income one," said Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, president of Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).
Addressing as chief guest at the closing ceremony of the 3-day 23rd BATEXPO, the BNP chairperson also said the country's economy is on the verge of collapse due to inefficiency and mismanagement of the government.
The former prime minister asked the government to reduce bank interest rate, resolve the problems of gas and electricity, set up captive power plants, ETP in industries and strengthen the role in World Trade Organisation and make Bangladesh missions abroad more active.
Khaleda called for quick resolution of the demands of garments industry. She said garments sector should be provided with all necessary financial, policy and moral support to have a competitive edge in the world market. She said the ready-made garment (RMG) sector is now under serious pressure. The government should establish garment villages so that the factories could meet the buyers' needs.
Expressing concern over unrest and chaos in garment industry, Khaleda said it is the government responsibility to maintain law and order there.
She suggested more workers' welfare oriented steps in garments sector. She said garments sector was given the highest priority during her rule.
BGMEA leaders appreciated that BNP had kept garment sector out of the purview of hartal.
Some of them suggested that political parties should refrain from taking hard line that might hamper the garments sector.
Presided over by BGMEA president M Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, the function was also addressed by BNP leaders MK Anwar, Amir Khashru Mahmud Chowdhury and Dr Osman Farruk and BGMEA leaders Nasiruddin Chowdhury, Siddiqur Rahman and Faruk Ahmed.
BNP leader MK Anwar said the garments sector is vulnerable as fire service department in a recent survey said one fourth factories located at Savar and Ashulia don't have fire safety measures in terms of factory building design.
He urged the garment makers to spend more money for training and keep factory buildings safe so that incidents like Tazreen factory fire does not recur.
Khaleda Zia's Adviser and BNP leader Amir Khashru Mahmud Chowdhury said in the absence of democracy the economic progress of the country is not possible.
He urged the trade body leaders to take initiative so that the government resolve the existing political turmoil by restoring caretaker system.
"Trade body wants to send BNP to the parliament. But you know parliament is not a place to seek solution, it is a place for passing bills," Amir Khashru Mahmud Chowdhury said.
He said if the BNP comes to power again it would bring change in the policy so that the infrastructure could be developed on priority basis, mismanagement in the capital market is removed and garments export doubled.