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Download PDF The recent violent protests at various garment factories are a ‘conspiracy’ of a certain quarter and a small number of rowdy workers have been inciting the violence, ready-made garment factory owners said yesterday.
At an emergency press conference called by Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) at its office, Nazrul Islam Swapan, managing director of Nassa Group, said the allegations — not providing adequate Iftar and other allowances — being cited against Nassa Group as the reasons for the recent protests are ‘baseless’ because the workers of Nassa Group are among the best paid workers in the country.
ABM Shamsuddin Ahmed, acting president of BGMEA, said, “A small number of unruly and so-called labour leaders are causing this to happen by inciting all labourers.”
“During the last few weeks, a conspiracy is being carried out to annihilate the existence of the garment industry through destructive activities at numerous garment factories in Dhaka and Chittagong,” he added.
Nassa Group managing director Swapan said he has never received any complaint about his group ever since it was established and he has always looked after his workers. “I am the only garment factory owner who provides the workers with milk or Tang with substantial quantity of meals.”
It is being noticed that the factories that are being the targets of destruction, such as the factories of Nassa Group, are usually 100 percent compliant and pay their workers regularly, Shamsuddin, the acting president of BGMEA, said.
The agitating workers’ claim of receiving only Tk 5 for Iftar allowance per worker as opposed to Tk 20 allowance at other factories is baseless, since “no factory pays more than Tk12 to their workers for Iftar. And that is given as food, not in cash,” he said.
The factory that reportedly pays Tk 20 to its workers is an ‘exception’ and it is a non-profit-making enterprise, he added.
Demanding stringent action against the perpetrators of the attacks, the acting BGMEA president said, “Genuine workers, who are not involved in the violence, have been used by a certain quarters for their malevolent intentions.”
When asked to name a few of the ‘conspirators’, Shamsuddin said, “It is not our job to find out everything. If the government can catch all the corrupt and tax-evaders, they can surely find these people too.”
Former presidents and directors of BGMEA were also present at the press briefing.
September 23rd, 2007 at 3:14 pm
From the statement of Mr.Islam it is now crystal clear that outsiders are trying to destroy the garment factoriers of Bangladesh.
They must be instantly cought, alert all border
Bangladeshi force to catch them & local public to help if outsiders were present.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Really these dresses are lovely and beautiful.
I think these dresses are very hot. Thanks a lot
:lol: