The international buyers of readymade garments here on Monday expressed grave concern over the huge casualties in the Savar building collapse and the ongoing political unrest in the country.“They (RMG buyers) have become extremely worried because of the current political unrest and the Savar tragedy followed by the Tazreen Fashions inferno,” President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) M Atiqul Islam said.
He was talking to reporters after a views-exchange meeting between the representatives of apparel producers and the buyers in the capital’s BGMEA Bhaban in the wake of the Savar building collapse.
Representatives from the buyers, former BGMEA presidents M Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin and Tipu Munshi were, among others, attended the meeting held with Atiqul Islam in the chair.
The BGMEA chief, however, asked the buyers not to get panicked, saying, “The Savar tragedy is just a disaster. “We (buyers and apparel makers) are on the same boat.”
He sought the buyers’ cooperation in overcoming the present critical situation the RMG sector is now facing following the Savar tragedy.
The BGMEA chief also urged the main opposition BNP to withdraw its May 2 hartal for the sake of the RMG sector.
He said the buyers have decided to form an assessment committee to look into the overall situation in the RMG sector after the Savar tragedy.
About the casualties in the building collapse, he said a total of 381 bodies have so far been recovered from the collapsed Rana Plaza while 2437 others rescued alive.
He added that 519 injured workers are undergoing treatment at different hospitals. “We’re trying our best for the treatment of the injured workers. We’ve already paid Tk 10 lakh to Enam Medical College in Savar as the medical expense of the injured workers.”
At the meeting, the buyers enquired about BGMEA’s criteria in issuing licenses to RMG factories, and suggested the government play a key role in ensuring workplace safety of the workers. They stressed that all should work together. UNB
