Govt to unearth root of RMG unrest: PM
Thursday, 10 September 2009
FE Report
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wednesday said the government would investigate if the recent unrest in the apparel sector was a conspiracy hatched by vested quarters to get financial benefit from the government.
"We have to unearth if the owners are setting their units ablaze to draw the attention of the government to get financial benefit," she said in Parliament while replying to a supplementary question raised by the lone independent lawmaker, Fazlul Azim.
An industrial police force would be raised to stop unrest in the industrial units, especially in garment factories, she said.
She, however, said it is the responsibility of the owners of industries to maintain discipline in their units.
The BGMEA, the apex body of garment factory owners, last week demanded Tk 30 billion as compensation from the government stimulus package to defray salary and bonus to the employees. The sector, however, recorded a growth of 12 per cent in the last fiscal.
Replying to another question from Zafrul Islam Chowdhury, the Prime Minister said tourist police have been constituted primarily with 82 personnel under an assistant superintendent of police for ensuring safety and security of tourists.
The Prime Minister said the government wants to join the Asian Highway to connect itself with the rest of Asia and Europe for the sake of development, employment, expansion of business and trade as well as for infrastructural improvement of the country.
"We don't want to be isolated from the rest of the world by keeping Bangladesh cut off from the Asian Highway network," she said.
The government is not driven by any 'fear factor' that the country would lose sovereignty and independence if it joins the international network, she said replying to another supplementary question from Mujibul Huq during the question and answer hour of the Prime Minister at the Jatiya Sangsad.
"The Awami League government is well aware of what is harmful for and what is beneficial for Bangladesh. We are not afraid of signing a network agreement," the Prime Minister said.
The cabinet on June 15 approved the proposal for joining the Asian highway network for the expansion of communications, business and trade with the countries of the region.
Bangladesh has selected three routes to connect with the Asian Highway. The routes are Benapole-Jessore-Bhanga-Dhaka-Kanchpur-Sylhet-Tamabil (Route AH-1), Banglabandha-Hatikamrul-Tangail-Dhaka-Kanchpur-Syhet-Tamabil (Route AH-2) and the regional Mongla-Khulna-Jessore-Pakshi-Hatikamrul-Kanchpur-Comilla-Chittagong-Cox's Bazar-Teknaf (Route AH-41).
Responding to a question from Rashed Khan Menon of the Workers Party, Sheikh Hasina said the government would decide on the regional route of the Asian Highway after signing the international route agreement.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wednesday said the government would investigate if the recent unrest in the apparel sector was a conspiracy hatched by vested quarters to get financial benefit from the government.
"We have to unearth if the owners are setting their units ablaze to draw the attention of the government to get financial benefit," she said in Parliament while replying to a supplementary question raised by the lone independent lawmaker, Fazlul Azim.
An industrial police force would be raised to stop unrest in the industrial units, especially in garment factories, she said.
She, however, said it is the responsibility of the owners of industries to maintain discipline in their units.
The BGMEA, the apex body of garment factory owners, last week demanded Tk 30 billion as compensation from the government stimulus package to defray salary and bonus to the employees. The sector, however, recorded a growth of 12 per cent in the last fiscal.
Replying to another question from Zafrul Islam Chowdhury, the Prime Minister said tourist police have been constituted primarily with 82 personnel under an assistant superintendent of police for ensuring safety and security of tourists.
The Prime Minister said the government wants to join the Asian Highway to connect itself with the rest of Asia and Europe for the sake of development, employment, expansion of business and trade as well as for infrastructural improvement of the country.
"We don't want to be isolated from the rest of the world by keeping Bangladesh cut off from the Asian Highway network," she said.
The government is not driven by any 'fear factor' that the country would lose sovereignty and independence if it joins the international network, she said replying to another supplementary question from Mujibul Huq during the question and answer hour of the Prime Minister at the Jatiya Sangsad.
"The Awami League government is well aware of what is harmful for and what is beneficial for Bangladesh. We are not afraid of signing a network agreement," the Prime Minister said.
The cabinet on June 15 approved the proposal for joining the Asian highway network for the expansion of communications, business and trade with the countries of the region.
Bangladesh has selected three routes to connect with the Asian Highway. The routes are Benapole-Jessore-Bhanga-Dhaka-Kanchpur-Sylhet-Tamabil (Route AH-1), Banglabandha-Hatikamrul-Tangail-Dhaka-Kanchpur-Syhet-Tamabil (Route AH-2) and the regional Mongla-Khulna-Jessore-Pakshi-Hatikamrul-Kanchpur-Comilla-Chittagong-Cox's Bazar-Teknaf (Route AH-41).
Responding to a question from Rashed Khan Menon of the Workers Party, Sheikh Hasina said the government would decide on the regional route of the Asian Highway after signing the international route agreement.