Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Faruque Hassan has urged the authorities to ease the procedures for fast release of imported goods.

He made the request at a meeting with Chittagong Customs House Commissioner M. Fakhrul Alam in Chattogram on Tuesday. 

He said the RMG industry of Bangladesh is still struggling to recover from the unprecedented crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The support and cooperation of the Customs House Chittagong would help the apparel industry to recover from the effects of Covid-19 and retain competitiveness in the global market, he added. 

Faruque Hassan also said easing of customs procedures would help apparel exporters to take delivery of their imported goods on time, which is necessary to maintain lead time as specified by buyers. 

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Speaking at the meeting BGMEA First Vice President Syed Nazrul Islam said retail sales are growing in Europe and the US following mass vaccination, which has resulted in increasing flow of work orders to Bangladesh. 

Support of all stakeholders especially customs house is required to make use of the opportunity, he said. 

Chittagong Customs House Commissioner M. Fakhrul Alam said Custom House, Chittagong is carrying out round-the-clock activities to help RMG industry to recover from the impacts of the Covid pandemic and maintain economic growth. 

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BGMEA Vice President Rakibul Alam Chowdhury, Directors Tanvir Ahmed, Abdullah Hil Rakib, Haroon Ar Rashid, Navidul Huq, Rajiv Chowdhury, Md. Imranur Rahman, Md. M. Mohiuddin Chowdhury, Mohammed Abdus Salam, Tanvir Habib, A.M. Shafiul Karim (Khokon), Md. Hassan (Jacky), M. Ahsanul Hoq, Mohammed Meraj-E-Mostafa (Kaisar), former First Vice Presidents Nasir Uddin Chowdhury and Moinuddin Ahmed Mintu, former Director and Chairman of BGMEA Standing Committee on Customs (Sea) Anjan Shekhar Das, former Director and Chairman of BGMEA Standing Committee on Customs (Bond) Liakat Ali Chowdhury were present at the meeting.