Dhaka, June 10 (UNB)-Bangladesh’s export earnings from Ready-Made Garment (RMG) sector earned $31.73 billion in the first 11 months of the fiscal (July to May), up 12.82 percent from the corresponding period of the last fiscal, when it was $28.12 billion.  

According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data released on Monday, knitwear products earned $15.68 billion, which is 12.50 percent higher than the $13.94 billion earned during the same period of FY2017-2018.

Besides, Woven products earned $16.05 billion, up by 13.13 percent from $14.18 billion during the same period of the previous fiscal year.

The specialized textile sector saw a 33.79 percent growth to $137.74 million from $103 million, while home textile products saw a negative growth of 2.69 percent to $800 million, down from $825 million.

Meanwhile, agricultural products posted a sharp rise of 40.3 percent growth to $854.46 million in the first eleven months of FY2018-19 from $609 million in the previous fiscal year.

However, the earnings from leather and leather goods witnessed a 5.53 percent negative growth to $944 million during the period, down from $999 million during the same period of FY2017-2018.

Jute and jute goods also registered 20 percent negative growth to $773.57 million, which was $967 million during the same period in the previous fiscal year.

However, Bangladesh’s exports shipments earned by 14.78 percent to $3.81 billion in the eleventh month of the current fiscal year which was $3.32 billion in the same period a year ago.

Dhaka, May 21 (UNB)- Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Rubana Huq on Tuesday urged workers’ leaders to refrain from complaining about internal problems to foreigners. 

“Foreign buyers don’t increase the rate even though our production cost has increased immensely. If you complain to buyers than they get a chance to bargain and reduce prices,” she told a roundtable on national budget at Jatiya Press Club.

Rubana said the owners should be united. “But sadly, we aren’t and that’s a barrier to the industry’s development,” she said. 

The BGMEA chief said that the organisation will take all initiatives if the workers inform it of their demands first.

“The welfare of the workers means the industry’s wellbeing. Don’t create any violence. I’m with you,” she said.

Centre for Policy Dialogue Research Director Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem demanded increasing budget allocation for workers.

“It won’t require a huge amount. Community based development is needed in the industry,” he said

Moazzem said that it is time to raise voice together for increasing prices of products.

Mahbubur Rahman Ismail, president of Bangladesh Textile Garments Workers Federation, put forth several proposals including starting ration system for workers.

“We’ve submitted our demands to the Finance Ministry. We’ll submit these to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as soon as possible,” he said.

ZM Kamrul Anam, president of Bangladesh Textile and Garments Workers League, urged the government to increase budget allocation for garment workers.
 

Dhaka, Feb 28 (UNB)- The workers of Garib and Garib Sweater Factory in Gazipur held a rally at the Jatiya Press Club on Thursday demanding unpaid wages.

They claimed the factory authorities also threatened to file cases against them. The workers sought the intervention of the government and BGMEA authorities.

National Garment Workers Federation President Amirul Haque Amin urged the factory authorities to pay the workers within the shortest possible time.

Alamgir Roni, president of Gonotantrik Garments Sramik Karmachari Federation, accused the company of harassing workers and torturing them. 

He threatened to intensify agitation if the workers are not paid and their harassment is not stopped.
 

Dhaka, Feb 17 (UNB) - Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) on Saturday evening accorded a reception to its members elected Members of Parliament (MPs) in the 11th national election, including new ministers.

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, MP, LGRD Minister Md Tajul Islam, MP, Private Industry and Investment Adviser to the PM Salman Fazlur Rahman, MP, Abdus Salam Murshedi, MP, Jahirul Haque Bhuiyan Mohon, MP, Mahmud Us Samad Chowdhury, MP, and Abdul Momin Mondol, MP, from the apparel sector were present at the reception.

“It’s a great honour and pride to accord reception to the ministers and MPs who are also family members of the apparel industry,” BGMEA President Md Siddiqur Rahman said while addressing the function held at BGMEA Complex.

He hoped that the ministers and MPs would continue to make their contributions to the development of the country and the RMG sector, said a press release.

FBCCI President M Shafiul Islam (Mohiuddin), former BGMEA presidents Anisur Rahman Sinha and Md Atiqul Islam, BGMEA First Vice President Moinuddin Ahmed, Senior Vice President Faruque Hassan, Vice President SM Mannan (Kochi), Vice President (Finance) Mohammed Nasir and Directors of BGMEA were also present.

Dhaka, Dec 15 (UNB) – Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Siddiqur Rahman on Saturday called upon the garment workers not to be misguided by the rumours spread by conspirators.

He also requested them to return to their respective workplaces at a press conference arranged by the organization on current labour situation of the RMG industry at BGMEA Bhaban in the city.

Mentioning that some factories in Ashulia and Gazipur areas were closed as the workforce refrained themselves from working for the fifth consecutive day Saturday.

Siddikur Rahman said a vested quarter has been provoking the RMG workers on their wage issue to unsettle the industry centering the imminent parliamentary election. 

BGMEA chief also requested the workers of all sectors to contact with the factory authority or BGMEA instead of observing work abstention if any confusion arises regarding the new wage board. 

“Even though the industry is not fully capable, the increases in workers’ wager have been continuous since 2010 to 2018 reaching around 381 percent. Since 2013, there has been an increase of five percent every year,” said the president. 

“There has been rumour of discrimination in the new wage board saying that every grade did not get the increment. In reality, every worker will receive increment based on their post and grade. Minimum allowance for a worker has been increased to 1850 taka from 1100 taka. Workers, whose basic salary is higher than the gazette states, will also receive ten percent increase in house rent.” 

Siddikur Rahman also mentioned that the announced minimum wages will be added with the salary of December which will be paid by January 7-10. 

“There’s no reason of protesting before receiving the government proposed salary,” he added. 

He went on by saying it should be checked that nobody can create anarchy by using the workers to thwart the election. 

BGMEA chief urged the law enforcement agencies to find and take actions against the culprits who are pitting the workers and industry owners together. 

National Garments Workers Federation President Amirul Haq Amin resonated with him saying everyone will be paid the increased salary by the first week of December and the yearly increase will continue. 

He repeated BGMEA chief’s plea saying that it is the duty of everybody to maintain peaceful environment before the election. 

He insisted that the workers should discuss with the respective factory owners to resolve any issue regarding new wage board instead of stopping production. 

He also asked them to contact the workers’ federation or BGMEA if any help is needed over the issue. 

BGMEA officials and other labour union heads, among others, were present at the conference.