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. READ: ILO spreads Covid-19 awareness among RMG workers 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.

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Faruque Hassan has requested the Industrial Police chief to consider extending zones of the specialised unit of the Bangladesh Police to Uttarkhan, Dakshinkhan, Mirpur, Malibagh, Rampura and Badda where some apparel factories are operating. Additional Inspector General of Industrial Police Shafiqul Islam and Faruque Hassan had a meeting at the BGMEA office Wednesday on the law and order situation in the RMG industry during the Covid-19 period and ahead of Eid-ul Azha. Faruque thanked the Industrial Police for providing its support and cooperation to the readymade garment (RMG) industry by assuring security and a peaceful atmosphere in the sector through maintaining law and order. The BGMEA chief also praised the role of the Industrial Police in maintaining harmonious industrial relations between factory owners and workers. Shafiqul Islam said the Industrial Police has been working round the clock to maintain peace and ensure security in the industrial areas. He also assured that the Industrial Police would extend all-out support and cooperation to the RMG industry. BGMEA Senior Vice-President SM Mannan (Kochi), Vice-President Md Shahidullah Azim, Vice-President (Finance) Khandoker Rafiqul Islam and Vice-President Md Nasir Uddin and directors were also present at the meeting. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Industrial Police Md Mahbubur Rahman, Additional DIG AKM Awlad Hossain, Superintendent of Police (Operations and Intelligence) Shoaib Ahmed, SPs of Industrial Police-1, Ashulia Zone, Industrial Police Zone-2, Gazipur, Industrial Police Zone-4 and Narayanganj also joined the meeting.

Readymade garment and all other export-oriented factories will remain open during the nationwide ‘strict lockdown’ which is set to begin on Monday. Sources Bangladesh Garment Exporters and Manufacturers Association (BGMEA) confirmed the news to UNB citing a circular issued by the organisation. “Export-oriented factories will not remain under the purview of the lockdown. However, strict health protocols should be maintained in keeping the factories open.” the circular read. Also read: Army may be deployed to enforce lockdown, hints state minister Earlier on Saturday, Bangladesh Garments Buying House Association sent an application to the Cabinet Secretary Khondokar Anwarul Islam requesting permission to keep the factories operational on a limited scale during the lockdown. The leaders of the organisation also said that they have received a positive response from the government. Earlier on Friday, Press Information Department Principal Information Officer Surath Kumar Sarker said that the government is going to enforce a new nationwide "strict lockdown" on Monday. Also read: Strict nationwide lockdown in Bangladesh from Monday as Covid situation worsens The restrictions will remain in place for seven days unless extended. Government and private offices, barring those of emergency services, will remain closed during this period. All modes of transport, except those carrying emergency goods, will also remain suspended and nobody will be allowed to go out unless there is an emergency.

International Labour Organisation (ILO) Country Director in Bangladesh Tuomo Poutiainen has praised the development that the readymade garment (RMG) sector has made in the areas of workplace safety and social compliance. A delegation of the ILO led by its Country Director held a meeting with Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Faruque Hassan at BGMEA office on Sunday. They discussed the progress of the ongoing projects jointly implemented by ILO and BGMEA in the RMG sector. Also read: Bangladesh elected ILO Covid-19 Technical Committee chair They also had discussion on the possible avenues of collaboration between ILO and BGMEA for further development of the industry, especially for workers’ well-being, said a BGMEA media release. BGMEA President Faruque Hassan expressed his thanks to the ILO for providing its support to Bangladesh garment industry in ensuring workers’ rights and welfare. BGMEA Vice President Miran Ali, Directors Barrister Shehrin Salam Oishee and Asif Ashraf were present. Also read: Long working hours increase deaths from heart disease, stroke: WHO, ILO

The European Union (EU) and Germany on Thursday transferred EUR 80 million (over Tk 800 crore) to the government of Bangladesh to strengthen key areas of its social security system and build resilience to Covid-19, with a particular focus on affected workers in export-oriented industries.

The readymade garment factory owners have agreed not to axe workers until the next Eid-ul-Fitr as the sector struggles amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Bangladesh’s readymade garment (RMG) export markets witnessed a negative growth of 6.21 percent to $16.02 billion in the first half of the current Fiscal Year (FY).