UNB, Dhaka :
Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed on Tuesday said a case ‘should be filed’ against the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) for what he said its ‘false, motivated and imaginary’ reports against Bangladesh’s readymade garment (RMG) industry.
“TIB is trying to harm the country’s RMG industry by presenting untrue, imaginary and motivated information,” he said suggesting a case against TIB, an anti-graft watchdog, accusing it of carrying out a motivated and intentional campaign against the emerging industry.
The TIB, in its latest report, claimed that the supply chain of the garment
industry, the country’s biggest export earner, is plagued by irregularities and corruption for which global apparel buyers are also responsible. The anti-corruption watchdog also detected anomalies at 16 stages- from order placement to shipment-in the apparel supply chain.
The Commerce Minister made the remark while addressing as the chief guest at the closing ceremony of the four-day seventh international garments accessories and packaging exposition titled ‘GAPEXPO-2016’ in the city.
Bangladesh Garments Accessories and Packaging Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGAPMEA), ASK Trade and Exhibition Private Limited, India, and Zakaria Trade and Fair International jointly organised the fair at the International Convention City, Basundhara to showcase the latest products and collections of RMG exporters and buying houses.
Criticising the TIB role, Tofail said the TIB is carrying out the negative campaign intentionally and ‘in a very planned way’ so foreigners and foreign buyers get a negative perception about Bangladesh and its RMG industry.
He said, the Accord and Alliance regularly inspect the RMG factories and the foreign diplomats stationed in Dhaka also expressed satisfaction over the progress made in the RMG sector.
“We’ve overcome the trust deficit and challenges that had emerged after the Rana Plaza disaster,” Tofail Ahmed said expressing dissatisfaction over TIB’s role at a time when Bangladesh is marching forward overcoming all the challenges.
He said Bangladesh’s readymade garment industry is now fully compliant, and workers are now working in a safe and working-friendly environment. The Commerce Minister also said all the stakeholders in the RMG industry are working in a planned way to reach the US$ 50-billion export target by 2021.
Terming the RMG as a rising industry, Tofail said evil-efforts are on to harm the industry.
On GSP issue, the Commerce Minister said Bangladesh’s overall export to the US market is on the rise though the GSP facilities remained suspended there.
On BGAPMEA’s demand for cash incentives, Tofail Ahmed said the government will scrutinise the proposal and assured of providing incentives if the demand is found logical.
Deputy Minister for Environment and Forests Abdullah Al Islam Jakob, President of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Abdul Matlub Ahmed and former BGMEA President Anwar-ul-Alam Chowdhury Parvez, among others, spoke at the programme held with BGAPMEA president Rafez Alam Chowdhury in the chair.
Some $15 billions are expected to come from the sector when Bangladesh will achieve $50 billion export by 2021, industry insiders said.
Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed on Tuesday said a case ‘should be filed’ against the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) for what he said its ‘false, motivated and imaginary’ reports against Bangladesh’s readymade garment (RMG) industry.
“TIB is trying to harm the country’s RMG industry by presenting untrue, imaginary and motivated information,” he said suggesting a case against TIB, an anti-graft watchdog, accusing it of carrying out a motivated and intentional campaign against the emerging industry.
The TIB, in its latest report, claimed that the supply chain of the garment
industry, the country’s biggest export earner, is plagued by irregularities and corruption for which global apparel buyers are also responsible. The anti-corruption watchdog also detected anomalies at 16 stages- from order placement to shipment-in the apparel supply chain.
The Commerce Minister made the remark while addressing as the chief guest at the closing ceremony of the four-day seventh international garments accessories and packaging exposition titled ‘GAPEXPO-2016’ in the city.
Bangladesh Garments Accessories and Packaging Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGAPMEA), ASK Trade and Exhibition Private Limited, India, and Zakaria Trade and Fair International jointly organised the fair at the International Convention City, Basundhara to showcase the latest products and collections of RMG exporters and buying houses.
Criticising the TIB role, Tofail said the TIB is carrying out the negative campaign intentionally and ‘in a very planned way’ so foreigners and foreign buyers get a negative perception about Bangladesh and its RMG industry.
He said, the Accord and Alliance regularly inspect the RMG factories and the foreign diplomats stationed in Dhaka also expressed satisfaction over the progress made in the RMG sector.
“We’ve overcome the trust deficit and challenges that had emerged after the Rana Plaza disaster,” Tofail Ahmed said expressing dissatisfaction over TIB’s role at a time when Bangladesh is marching forward overcoming all the challenges.
He said Bangladesh’s readymade garment industry is now fully compliant, and workers are now working in a safe and working-friendly environment. The Commerce Minister also said all the stakeholders in the RMG industry are working in a planned way to reach the US$ 50-billion export target by 2021.
Terming the RMG as a rising industry, Tofail said evil-efforts are on to harm the industry.
On GSP issue, the Commerce Minister said Bangladesh’s overall export to the US market is on the rise though the GSP facilities remained suspended there.
On BGAPMEA’s demand for cash incentives, Tofail Ahmed said the government will scrutinise the proposal and assured of providing incentives if the demand is found logical.
Deputy Minister for Environment and Forests Abdullah Al Islam Jakob, President of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Abdul Matlub Ahmed and former BGMEA President Anwar-ul-Alam Chowdhury Parvez, among others, spoke at the programme held with BGAPMEA president Rafez Alam Chowdhury in the chair.
Some $15 billions are expected to come from the sector when Bangladesh will achieve $50 billion export by 2021, industry insiders said.
