Apparel Online Bangladesh Magazine Magazine March 2018 | Page 43

BANGLADESH CANVAS
BGMEA Election Row: Opposition protests
against 1-year extension decision
The Independence Council
(Swadhinata Parishad), which was
gearing up for the polls supposed
to be held in March this year before
the Commerce Ministry granted
a 1-year extension to the current
committee of Bangladesh Garment
Manufacturers and Exporters
Association (BGMEA), protested at
a press conference in Dhaka. The Independence Council was
to contest the election with an
aim to make sure that the leaders
of BGMEA do not select on the
crotchet of a dominant fraction.
The convener of the association is
Md. Jahangir Alam, who is also the
Managing Director of Design and
Source, involved in the production
and exporting of garments.
The quarter alleged that it is
‘illegal’ to extend the term of a
committee after announcing the
election calendar. It also alleged
that such a decision would
require consent of all industry
stakeholders – a procedure that
was not followed. According to
the Independence Council, a
participatory election is needed
to create a qualified leadership to Alam told Apparel Online that it
is illegal for an ‘unelected body’
to reside for so long. “We have
urged the Government to organize
the BGMEA election in due time.
Because of the pending election,
our factories are closing down,
exports are falling. I have raised my
voice for the election and now they
are conspiring against me and want
to shutter my factory,” he added.
deal with the present problems of
the readymade garment industry
of the country. The apex trade
association of Bangladesh’s
apparel manufacturers and
exporters has been in the news
over the election since the past few
months. For the time extension, the
current board headed by Siddiqur
Rahman cited various reasons
including parliamentary election
of Bangladesh.
European Commission again warns Bangladesh
over labour rights
The European Commission (EC),
an institution of the European
Union (EU) responsible
for proposing legislation,
implementing decisions,
upholding the EU treaties, has
threatened Bangladesh of the
GSP facility withdrawal yet again
over the labour rights’ situation
in the country.
The European Commission
has issued the warning in its
recent report on the effects of
GSP and the special incentive
arrangement for sustainable
development and good
governance (GSP+) covering
2016-17 given to the European
Parliament and the council.
In the report, the European
Commission has recapitulated
its concern over the labour
rights’ situation mainly
with respect to freedom of
association and successful
implementation of the ‘Compact’
in the readymade garment sector
of Bangladesh.
The report, published in January
2018, also warned of taking
steps, including launching an
investigation to improve the
situation ahead of the withdrawal
of the existing trade facility
under the GSP.
The Commission in particular
raised the alignment of the
Bangladesh Labour Act (BLA)
and the Export Processing Zone
(EPZ) Act with the ILO labour
rights’ conventions as one of the
priority actions.
Earlier in March 2017, the
Commission had warned
Bangladesh of temporary
withdrawal of the preferential
trade facility if it fails to address
labour rights issues in line with
the ILO recommendations and
does not come up with a proper
plan of action in this regard
within a certain time frame.
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