Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged RMG manufacturers and exporters to establish new industry only in economic zones. The premier came up with the call while the new BGMEA board led by its President Siddiqur Rahman made a courtesy call on her at her office in the city yesterday. The RMG manufacturer’s platform placed a series of demands including formulation of energy policy to the prime minister. BGMEA also demanded gas supply to boiler and drier machines, gas and electricity connection to newly established RMG units and low-cost fund to small and medium entrepreneurs. “Though the country’s industrialisation has begun in an unplanned way, it should be in a planned manner in future and that should only be in economic zones,” BGMEA Vice-President Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu said, quoting the prime minister. Responding to the demand for energy policy, the prime minister assured the BGMEA leaders of ensuring better energy in future. RMG entrepreneurs keen to establish factories in Detailed Area Plan (DAP) for relocation are not getting their plan approved. “We have urged the prime minister to take immediate measures in this regard,” BGMEA President Siddiqur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune. The international donor agency including the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and JICA is providing low-cost fund for RMG remediation, but the interest of the loans reaches up to 10% because of local bank charges. “That is why, we urge the PM to take initiative so that entrepreneurs can get loan at the agency offer rate instead of local rate set by the local banks.” “We have limitation to providing gas and you will not get gas connection in captive power plants since there is enough power to provide for RMG industry, but we would consider drier and boiler machines for gas,” BGMEA Vice-President Mohammed Nair told the Dhaka Tribune quoting PM. RMG manufacturers are facing trouble during delivery of their products by the airport authorities, which hurts production. For ensuring quick delivery, the prime minister’s intervention has been sought, said Nasir. “We also urged the PM to hold talks with the Australian government to resume air shipment to the country, which is recently suspended over security question,” he added. “To remain competitive in the global market with our competitors, we urged the premier to introduce a free float exchange for dollar,” said Nasir. BGMEA senior Vice-President Faruque Hassan, Vice-President SM Mannan Kochi and immediate past president Atiqul Islam and other office bearers and board members were present during the meeting.
