Following the Home Minister Sahara Khatun’s assurance of providing adequate security, garment producers in Bangladesh have reopened their factories at Ashulia industrial zone in Savar, Dhaka.The decision regarding reopening of the readymade garment (RMG) manufacturing units was taken at a meeting of leaders of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) and several other chambers.
BGMEA President Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin said the meeting followed long discussions with the Home Minister and other senior police officials.
He said violent incidences were stirred by a rumour of death of a worker in police custody after being detained from a factory.
As the workers’ fury flared up across the area, the owners of about 350 factories in Ashulia closed their units to avoid any further strife with workers, Mr. Shafiul said.
He requested the workers and other concerned persons to not get carried away by any rumours, stating that any sort of violence results in disruption of work and affects production, resulting in huge losses.
He said they are trying hard to retain a positive export growth, as the EU and the US – the two key destinations for Bangladeshi RMG exports – are facing financial crisis, and any negative incident at this juncture is likely to further harm the country’s garment industry.
On practice of trade unionism at the factories, he said, the owners already aided constitution of participatory committees from previous welfare bodies, and they are likely to permit formation of trade unions in future.
Fibre2fashion News Desk - India
