The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has urged the government to step up security measures and police surveillance to stop readymade garment (RMG) export goods theft on the Dhaka-Chattagram highway.

BGMEA President Faruque Hassan made the call during a meeting with Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan at the secretariat Monday.

Senior Secretary to the Public Security Division under the Home Ministry Mostafa Kamal Uddin, Inspector General of Police Dr Benazir Ahmed, Additional Inspector General of Industrial Police Shafiqul Islam, Additional Inspector General of Highway Police Mallick Faqrul Islam, Additional Commissioner (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police AKM Hafiz Akhtar and other high officials of law enforcement agencies attended the meeting.

Former president of BGMEA Md Siddiqur Rahman, incumbent Senior Vice-President SM Mannan (Kochi), Vice-President Md Shahidullah Azim, Vice-President (Finance) Khandoker Rafiqul Islam, Vice-President Md Nasir Uddin; and directors Md Khosru Chowdhury and Haroon Ar Rashid, and leaders of the Truck Covered Van Owners Association were also present at the meeting.

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BGMEA President Faruque Hassan said increasing incidents of RMG goods theft on the highway is worrying the apparel exporters. Also, such instances damage the image of Bangladesh when buyers discover rags and other materials filed by thieves in cargoes instead of finished garments, he added.

He urged the government to increase the vigilance of the law enforcement agencies to stop the theft of RMG goods.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan directed the law enforcement agencies to be strict in preventing garment goods theft on the highway.

The minister assured that the Dhaka-Chattogram highway would be brought under CCTV surveillance; work had had already started in this connection and would be completed within four months.

READ: BGMEA wants end of RMG goods theft on highways

He also gave instructions that a working committee be formed headed by the Additional IGP of Highway Police involving representatives of law enforcement agencies, the BGMEA and Truck Covered Van Owners Association to devise ways to curb RMG export goods theft on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway.