Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurating and laying the foundation stones of 65 development schemes, including 11 economic zones (suitable for setting up industries), 13 development projects in the economic zones through video conferencing on Wednesday — BSS Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated on Wednesday the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) complex at Uttara.
She opened the newly constructed building through videoconferencing from her official Gonobhaban residence in the capital.
The PM exhorted the apparel makers to explore new markets and diversify their products mainly to expand business and also for sustainability of the industry.
"We have to protect the industry that creates jobs for women. Its impact spreads to villages, improving the socio-economic condition of rural people," she said.
The Prime Minister also pressed for efforts to bring variation in designs and colours for diversification in garment products in line with market demand and trends.
Citing the government's move to adopt economic diplomacy, she said she has asked Bangladesh missions abroad to find new markets for local apparel items.
Explaining measures taken for garment workers, the PM said the minimum wage for them has been raised to Tk 8,000 from Tk 1,600 in the past 10 years.
As the High Court ordered to demolish BGMEA Building at Hatirjheel, she said the government allotted a large plot to the BGMEA at Uttara in the interest of the RMG sector.
PM's private sector development affairs adviser Saman F Rahman and former BGMEA presidents Atiqul Islam, Abdus Salam Murshedi and Anwarul Alam Chowdhury Parvez, among others, were present at Gonobhaban.
BGMEA president Md Siddiqur Rahman, vice-presidents SM Mannan Kochi and Mohammed Nasir, and Mohammadi Group managing director Rubana Huq, among others, joined the PM from the new complex.
The BGMEA will continue its official activities in the new five-story building, which will be developed to a 13-story two-tower building with two basements, after April 12, its president Md Siddiqur Rahman said.
Mr Rahman urged the PM to provide 5.0 per cent cash incentive for at least one year.
They are not getting fair prices from the buyers at a time when wage has been increased and rise in other cost of production, he said.
The construction of the new building began in November 2017 covering 4,64,613 square metres in a total area of 110 kathas of land at Uttara Sector-17.
The work is on target to finish by June 2020.
The new building will have an auditorium with the capacity of 750 people.
It will also have two seminar rooms, a 40,000-square metre fair venue, a display centre for showcasing garment products, a swimming pool and a health club.
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