The main job of the incoming BGMEA board of directors would be to brighten the image of Bangladesh’s garment industry, said Siddiqur Rahman, the outgoing president of the sector’s apex trade body.Bangladeshi garment manufacturers are not getting proper prices as the Western retailers are reluctant to hike the prices using the excuse of image crisis, he said at a press conference held at the under-construction office complex of the trade body in Uttara. For instance, a shirt made in Italy is sold at $200, but the same shirt of the same quality but made in Bangladesh is sold at only $20 a piece, according to the president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association.“It happens only because of the image crisis of the garment sector. So, the prime job of the upcoming committee will be to brighten the image of the country such that retailers pay fair prices.”The cost of production in the garment sector increased 30 percent between 2014 and 2018, but the prices of Bangladeshi-made garment items decreased 7.04 percent during the period.Bangladeshi garment exporters can maintain its lead time 98 percent of the time.“Still, the buyers do not pay higher prices.”Rahman also said the logistic support in Bangladesh improved over the last few years.For instance, 10 more gantry cranes are now in operation in the premier port in Chattogram, up from four two years ago.About the new office building of the BGMEA in Uttara, he said the trade body has started running its activities from the new premises from April 15.So far, the first six floors have been constructed of the 15-storey building.
