Moshiul Azam Shajal a leading businessman in the garment sector recently spoke to The Daily Observer on the development of the apparel industry putting forward some suggestions to the government to facilitate further growth of the vital wing of the country’s economy. To win over the challenges faced by the garment sector especially after the Rana Plaza collapse in 2013, Sajal suggested that the government has to take short term and long term policy to help garment sector to overcome the problems. The garment sector is now facing hindrances due to shortage of utilities including gas and power and poor infrastructure. Gas is one of the main source of power for the garments sector. But there is no development here and the businessmen have to depend on the alternative fuel system, he said. Putting light on bank loans Saja said: “The government should have uniform policy for extending bank loans to garment manufacturers and exporters at lower interest rates. Regarding the silence from foreign buyers on the demand to hike prices Sajal said they buyers are not responding because of some negative attitude of some of our dishounest garment manufacturers. But he did not elaborate the dishonesty of the factory owners. On efforts for restoration of Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) from the United States and Trade and Investment Forum Agreement (TICFA) with that country Sajal said Bangladesh has fulfilled all the condition to get back GSP in USA market. “But they are still to decide. But we are hopeful to get back GSP as early as possible,” he said. Meanwhile the garment workers have demanded to rise their wages and on the issue Sajal said: “We also demand many things from the government. But do we get it? We are demanding to reduce the bank Interest rate to the government.” “Same so called organization are demanding many things to spark unrest in the garments sector. The wages for garment workers have been increased by 100 times under the incumbent government.” When asked about the leadership of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and his expectations sajal said: “Now BGMEA gives many helpful supports to us. The ongoing committee is very talented. They can lead well in the next two years.” He put following suggestions to take ahead the garment industries saying that the government has to fix the 5, 7 and 10 years long policy to encourage the new business entrepreneurs. For that BGMEA has to prod the government to work out business incentives. Sajal a director of BGMEA is also the Managing Director of Fame Knitwears Ltd, Fashion Exposure Ltd, Fame Sweaters Ltd, Spectra Sweaters Ltd, Posmi Sweaters Limited and Sweaters Markets Ltd.
