What is truth?
Wednesday, 9 September 2009
Mahmudur Rahman
There were shades of what Francis Bacon had once said in beginning his famous essay "On truth" reflected in the actions of Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BGMEA) Chief Abdus Salam Murshedy recently. Bacon went "What is truth said jesting Pilate and would not stay for an answer". Murshedy went "We need Tk 30 billion to pay salaries and Eid bonus" and then went off on pilgrimage.
What Murshedy left behind in his wake was a fair sense of uproar. The government termed it as a form of arm twisting, the garments employees too umbrage and the general public, helpless as they are could only tut-tut and shake their heads in disbelief.
Somewhat akin to what government ministers have done in the past, the BGMEA representatives were quick to come out and clarify that the words were used somewhat out of context and that there was a different between sops and salaries. We are now led to understand that the garment manufacturers can indeed pay salaries and bonuses but are hurting from the global meltdown to the extent that many companies are either shutting down or have already closed shop. Murshedy's comment that the BGMEA would not be held responsible for social unrest if such a turn of events were to pass, left the most bitter taste even in these days of Ramzan.
Once again the business community have in effect gone and put their foot in their mouths. Before the budget it was bad homework by the FBCCI chief in going to the Finance Minister with a huge stimulus package list and now Murshedy. If one were to go by what he said then it would transpire that the garments industry is in such duress that they don't have money to pay their employees. How far that is believable is for the reader to determine and Murshedy's colleagues to fathom. The Finance Minister has been clear in saying that he was open to discussions to identify problem areas and possible solutions and once again the ball is in the court of the BGMEA to prepare themselves and have a healthy discussion with appropriate facts and figures.
From the perspective of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BKMEA), they have already declared their plans to look at non-traditional markets in spreading their export net. The Indian government has, after discussion with the industries declared that if exports bring in $ 200 billion this year, there would be attractive incentives on offer.
There were shades of what Francis Bacon had once said in beginning his famous essay "On truth" reflected in the actions of Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BGMEA) Chief Abdus Salam Murshedy recently. Bacon went "What is truth said jesting Pilate and would not stay for an answer". Murshedy went "We need Tk 30 billion to pay salaries and Eid bonus" and then went off on pilgrimage.
What Murshedy left behind in his wake was a fair sense of uproar. The government termed it as a form of arm twisting, the garments employees too umbrage and the general public, helpless as they are could only tut-tut and shake their heads in disbelief.
Somewhat akin to what government ministers have done in the past, the BGMEA representatives were quick to come out and clarify that the words were used somewhat out of context and that there was a different between sops and salaries. We are now led to understand that the garment manufacturers can indeed pay salaries and bonuses but are hurting from the global meltdown to the extent that many companies are either shutting down or have already closed shop. Murshedy's comment that the BGMEA would not be held responsible for social unrest if such a turn of events were to pass, left the most bitter taste even in these days of Ramzan.
Once again the business community have in effect gone and put their foot in their mouths. Before the budget it was bad homework by the FBCCI chief in going to the Finance Minister with a huge stimulus package list and now Murshedy. If one were to go by what he said then it would transpire that the garments industry is in such duress that they don't have money to pay their employees. How far that is believable is for the reader to determine and Murshedy's colleagues to fathom. The Finance Minister has been clear in saying that he was open to discussions to identify problem areas and possible solutions and once again the ball is in the court of the BGMEA to prepare themselves and have a healthy discussion with appropriate facts and figures.
From the perspective of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BKMEA), they have already declared their plans to look at non-traditional markets in spreading their export net. The Indian government has, after discussion with the industries declared that if exports bring in $ 200 billion this year, there would be attractive incentives on offer.