Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Rubana Huq on Tuesday urged workers’ leaders to refrain from complaining about internal problems to foreigners. Rubana Huq made this call at a roundtable discussion on national budget at Jatiya Press Club today. “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,” Rubana Huq said. She 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.
