bdnews24.com :
Bangladesh readymade garment industry owners have termed sending letters to US Congressmen alleging torture of workers ‘sedition’ and demanded trial of those responsible for the correspondence.
“There are laws and courts in this country. Despite that, those who are making allegations abroad without informing anyone must face sedition charges,” said Bangladesh Readymade Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Atiqul Islam.
Islam said this on Monday at a function in BGMEA Bhaban attended by Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed.
The minister said: “After sending the letter alleging torture of workers, another letter was sent stating that enough had been done and there was no need to proceed with the matter.”
“Sending such a letter means the matter is false,” he added.
During Tofail’s visit to the US on June 10, several US Congressmen alleged torture of workers showing him a letter sent from Bangladesh.
At a press conference on Sunday on his visit, the minister described the senders of such letters as conspirators.
It was claimed that the National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF) president Amirul Haq had sent the letter.
NGWF, a member of IndustryAll Bangladesh Council, used the logo of IndustryAll in the letter, whose copies were provided to reporters at the function.
BGMEA president said: “An organisation has to take the responsibility for any letter sent on its pad. IndustryAll Bangladesh Council has to take the responsibility for this (sending letter).”
He said that enquiries with every department concerned showed none of them had written the letter.
BGMEA has given fellowship to six journalists working in different media units through BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology (BUFT) for reports on the readymade garment industry.
This is the first time journalists were given BGMEA/BUFT Journalism Fellowship.
Dhaka University Vice Chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique, among others, was present at the programme.
The fellows are Kaler Kantha senior correspondent Rajeeb Ahmed, The Financial Express staff correspondent Monir Munni, Ekattor TV staff correspondent Zahidul Islam Mazumder, online newspaper Natun Barta executive editor Ekram Kabir, Daily Sylhet Surmar chief reporter Shah Sohel Ahmed and Bogra newspaper Daily Satmatha’s F Shahjahan.
