Accord, the platform of European clothing brands and buyers, would appeal against the High Court’s directive asking it to depart the country on or before November 30, 2018. It would also submit an application seeking stay on the decision of the High Court delivered on August 9.In the application, Accord, would seek reasonable time from the Appellate Division to depart the country so that the platform can complete its factory remediation work properly and a smooth transition of Accord listed factories to the government set Remediation Coordination Cell take place in the time, people involved with the process told New Age on Wednesday.A high official of International Labour Organisation on Wednesday told New Age that Accord might go to Appellate Division next week for seeking stay on the High Court order.He said that accord would seek reasonable extension of its time frame to the Appellate Division to make the transition process smooth in the period as the RCC was yet to fully ready.After hearing a writ petition filed by Smart Group, a High Court bench comprising Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed and Justice Farid Ahmed on August 9 issued a directive asking Accord to depart from Bangladesh by November 30.The HC also asked the government to remain restrained from extending the tenure of the Accord in Bangladesh in any manner, whatsoever.Following the order from High Court, global buyers, investors and EU parliament members repeatedly requested government to extend the timeframe of the platform until the ‘rigorous readiness’ of a national body to take over the factory safety responsibility.The government of Bangladesh informed the global stakeholders that it had no scope to extend the tenure of the Accord as the HC directed the platform to depart from Bangladesh and asked government to remain restrained from extending the tenure in any manner.After the Rana Plaza building collapse in April 24, 2013, that killed more than 1,100 people, mostly garments workers, EU retailers formed the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh to improve workplace safety in Bangladesh while North American retailers formed the Alliance undertaking a five-year plan, which set timeframes and accountability for inspections and training and workers empowerment programmes.A garment company Smart Group in April 2017 filed a writ petition with the HC as the Accord had decided to terminate business relations with the group.
