The Rana Plaza survivors are now faced with fund crunch while running small business they initiated with their compensation. A recent visit to some survivors’ residents at Savar revealed the fact. The Dhaka Tribune found that some survivors turned out to be small entrepreneurs instead of going to join the RMG factory again following the traumatic event of Rana Plaza collapse. Talking to several victims, it was revealed that the RMG workers started business with the fund they got from several sources, but now are facing fund shortage. A total of 50 Rana Plaza survivors including 44 female and 6 male received training on small business and entrepreneurship development conducted by the ActionAid Bangladesh.  So far, 40 participants engaged themselves in self-employment, 30 of which received advanced skill training course on dress-making and tailoring, boutique, ti-die and screen-print. “The dream of educating my daughter was shattered when Rana Plaza building collapsed, leaving me in dark about the future,” Kohinoor Begum, a survivor of Rana Plaza disaster, told the Dhaka Tribune.  “But after starting my small shop with the entrepreneurship training from the Action Aid, I have got back confidence and begun to dream about the future of my daughter,” said Kohinoor, who already established a small shop with Tk60,000. Kohinoor said if she had a refrigerator in her shop she could sell cold drink, pasteurised milk, ice cream and other frozen items. She wishes the government or the micro-credit lenders came forward with collateral free loans to help expand her business. Another entrepreneur Maleka echoed the same as Kohinoor. She said: “I have received training on block and boutiques and started working. I have revived an order of 500 scarfs but cannot buy raw materials due to fund shortage.” She called upon the government and the global buyers to come up with some sort of monetary support so that they could flourish their own business to beat poverty and hunger. Naisr Uddin, quality inspector of New Weave Garment housed in Rana Plaza, started small garment with eight machines and work for local market., He employed his fellow victims and needed more funds to add more machines to boost productivity.  All the victims, who talked to the Dhaka Tribune are unwilling to do work under the roof of any factory as they feel unsafe. What they want now is to be self- employed, but are facing trouble in getting loans. According a survey conducted by the ActionAid Bangladesh, 59% survivors of the Rana Plaza disaster are intent on starting small business on their own with the support from others. Among the respondents, over 35% have plan to open small grocery shop and 9.8% are planning to open boutique business. The rest 2.2% are planing to find out suitable jobs and 11.6% want to find suitable jobs other than RMG factory. The survey was conducted over 2,297 workers of Rana Plaza. On 24 April 2013, Rana Plaza, an eight-story commercial building, collapsed in Savar, outskirt of the capital, killing 1,135 workers and injuring over 2,500 people.

More than half the Rana Plaza factory collapse survivors still have no job even after two years into the country’s deadliest industrial accident which killed 1,135 workers and injured over 2,500. Lack of availability of suitable jobs, the workers’ physical weakness, mental trauma after the horror and employers’  unwillingness to recruit have caused the surviving workers to stay without jobs, finds a study by ActionAid Bangladesh. It said though an upward trend of employment was found, the preliminary findings of second year survey showed still 55% of the survivors were unemployed.  ActionAid disclosed the findings yesterday. The non-government organisation has been implementing a project titled “Socio-economic reintegration and rehabilitation for survivors with disabilities of Rana Plaza disaster” with support from International Labour Organization (ILO).  Meanwhile, the survivors who received training to be self-employed face several challenges including limited skills and courage to start a new initiatives and limited ability to take risk. Uncertainty over income security, lack of business orientation and limited knowledge on market, bank finance and value chain, inappropriate location of business outlet or production capacity are also among challenges, the survey report stated. On the other hand, challenges for wage employment include employers’ concerns over fitness, psychical health and production capability, problems with psychological adjustment in enclosed factory settings and skill limits.   “We will provide all out cooperation to ensure jobs for them as per their psychical conditions and capacity,” said Mohammad Hatem Ali, ex-first vice president of BKMEA.  BGMEA Additional Secretary Jaglul Haider said if all the stakeholders and NGOs cooperated, not a single workers would remain without job.

Nine international labour organisations, including the American Federation of Labour and Congress of Industrial Organisations (AFL-CIO), on Friday requested Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to have the murder of labour leader Aminul Islam reinvestigated. Aminul was abducted in Savar on April 4, 2012 and found dead on the roadside in Ghatail, Tangail, the following day. The post-mortem report said he was tortured to death. His family and co-workers arranged a press conference at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity yesterday where they alleged that Aminul’s true killers had not been identified. In a written statement, Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers Federation President Babul Akhter and Executive Director Kalpona Akhter, claimed that former officials of the NSI, one of the country’s main intelligence agencies, were responsible for the murder. Kalpana said the NSI’s then additional director Aminul Islam, field officer Lutfur Rahman and assistant director Mamunur Rashid plotted the murder. Aminul’s body was found about 100km from where he was last seen on April 4, 2012. The CID, after a long investigation, submitted a charge sheet against the lone accused, Mustafizur Rahman, an employee in the Savar EPZ. The court accepted the charge sheet in January 2014. Kalpona said nine labour organisations had sent letters to the prime minister’s office on Friday. They are requesting the PM to have the case reinvestigated, she said. The US trades union federation, AFL-CIO, in its letter, said the Bangladeshi government had not demonstrated a commitment to justice for Aminul and called for the case to be reinvestigated. The slain leader’s widow, Husne Ara Fahima, said she was frustrated with the probe and trial process. She said she feared reprisals by the killers.

As some foreign companies are closing down their factories in China, concerns also grow that foreign investors are massively leaving China. Such worries, though containing some legitimacy, were overblown as a breakdown of foreign direct investment data showed that the labor-intensive manufacturing sector sees less investment, while foreign investment in the service sector still registers strong growth, analysts said, reports Xinhua. The shift is in line with China’s economic rebalancing efforts – – steering itself away from an export-reliant economy toward one driven by domestic consumption, they added. Foreign companies originally went to China because they considered China as part of the global production chain as well as a platform to export elsewhere, Scott Kennedy, deputy director of the Freeman Chair in China Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), told Xinhua. Due to rising labor costs and other reasons, companies that are most sensitive to rising production cost in China are potentially considering moving elsewhere, said Kennedy. According to a survey conducted by the American Chamber of Commerce in China, 15 per cent of its member companies have moved or are planning to move capacity or investments outside of China in 2014, due to high labor costs. He Fan, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Science, held a similar view and told Xinhua that labor-intensive industries in China are facing challenges due to rising labor cost pressures. Along with China rebalancing to consumption-led and service- focused growth model, foreign investments which are in line with the rebalancing trend will continue to gain growth momentum, while those that cannot adapt to the trend will consider leaving, said the researcher. The official data also spoke of the same story. According to China’s Ministry of Commerce, foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows to China’s service sector grew 30 per cent year on year in the first two months of this year and their share in the total FDI inflows reached 61 per cent. On the contrary, the FDI inflows to China’s manufacturing sector grew at a smaller pace of 7.1 per cent and only accounted for 33.3 per cent of the total FDI inflows to China.

Speakers at a seminar observed that Asia is becoming the hub for global economic activities as in terms of foreign direct investment as well as trade, the region is leading the world. Considering this, arbitration will gain importance for growing activities in investment and business among the countries in Asia, they said at a seminar at a hotel in the capital on Saturday. The BIAC and the Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP jointly organised the seminar titled ‘The Rise of International Arbitration in Asia’ where prominent lawyers of the country were present. Lauding the role of the Bangladesh International Arbitration Centre (BIAC), they said BIAC is the country’s first and only ADR (Alternate Dispute Resolution) service institution, which is not only providing arbitration and mediation facilities but also generating awareness and training in these areas. Francis Xavier, SC and V Bala while Sameer Sattar, representatives from Rajah and Tann Singapore LLP spoke at the seminar. Mahbubur Rahman, Chairman, BIAC Council moderated the function. Welcoming the guests, Dr. Toufiq Ali, Chief Executive of the BIAC observed that Asia is becoming the hub for global economic activity.

Gazipur: The authorities of ‘Turag Garments Limited’ in Dakhkhin Panishail of the district announced closure of the factory for Saturday following labour unrest. The incident took place just a day after 80 workers of the factory fell sick after drinking ‘contaminated’ water. Meanwhile, three officers of the factory sustained injuries in an attack by the aggrieved workers. Of the injured, two were admitted to Enam Medical College Hospital in Savar in critical condition. Abdullahel Baki, officer-in-charge of Gazipur Industrial Police, said a altercation took place between the workers and factory officials on Saturday morning following the Thursday incident. At one stage, the aggrieved workers launched an attack on the factory officials, leaving them critically injured. On receiving information, police rushed to the spot and took the situation under control. Later, the authorities announced closure of the factory for the day reportedly avoid any further deterioration of the situation. Additional police forces were deployed around the factory to avoid any  untoward incidents, the OC added.

The government is likely to finalise the Export Policy 2015-18 with provision for 2.0 per cent special incentives for the readymade garment (RMG) factories against their exports to help them become compliant, a high official at the ministry of commerce said. Only the garment factories, situated outside the export processing zones (EPZs), would enjoy the facility, according to the draft policy. The trade official said the commerce ministry in a meeting with the stakeholders finalised the draft policy on Thursday and it is expected to be sent to the cabinet for approval soon. The policy also targeted exports worth US$ 50 billion, capitalising on the markets of three Asian economic giants, the official said. The ambitious target is being set as the country’s overseas sales hit a record $ 30 billion in fiscal year (FY), 2013-14. The policy is also likely to consider especially new products and non-traditional markets to help achieve the target, the trade official also said. “Japan, India and China will emerge as vibrant export destinations in the coming years and diversification of products might help achieve the target,” Hedayetullah Al Mamoon, Senior Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, told the FE. “The draft Export Policy 2015-18 has the provision of offering incentives to help broaden markets and product base to reach the target,” he said. “Besides, 12 products that are either new or slower in earning foreign currencies have been incorporated in the draft export policy, which will enjoy government support,” he added. Mr Mamoon also said the government wants to make the export system modern and liberal in conformity with the WTO (World Trade Organisation) rules.   Production of labour-intensive export products will be encouraged and supply of local and foreign raw materials made easier, the secretary informed. However, deep-sea fish, leather and leather products, frozen fish and processed fish items, handicrafts, electric and electronic items, fresh flower and foliage, loom fabrics, medicinal plants and medicine and medical items, plastic goods, furniture, printing and packaging, paper and rubber are the new items that have been included in the new policy. Besides, there will be attempts to improve quality of export products, bring diversification, increase production and capacity to be competitive through addressing the compliance issue. However, the government will take move to introduce different types of packages for the exporters to combat unforeseen challenges in the global market. To increase export of vegetables and frozen foods, the government will initiate establishment of a central warehouse and cool chain system near Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and all types of financial and technical supports would be provided to collect deep-sea fish, according to the draft policy. “We are optimistic about attaining the target of doubling the country’s export earnings within the period,” EPB vice chairman Shubhashish Bose told the FE. He said India, China and Japan will emerge as another USA or EU for Bangladesh in the coming years with respect to achieving the target. President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Md Atiqul Islam called upon the commerce ministry to add special incentive to the new policy to make the sector vibrant. “We were relentlessly trying to make all the garment factories compliant, the recent policy of the government will help us to materialise our dream,” he added. President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed hailed the government’s move to formulate the new export policy. “I do congratulate the government for its positive inputs in the new policy and for targeting new markets to achieve the export target,” he added. The new policy, however, discourages giving special preference to gas and electricity connections to the export-oriented industries as requested by the BGMEA and the BKMEA (Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association).

Officials of Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) pose with Maj Gen Mohd Habibur Rahman Khan, Executive Chairman of BEPZA, Maj Gen Md Siddiqur Rahman Sarker, Commandant of Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST), and other guests at a certificate-giving ceremony after completion of a training programme at MIST recently.
A total of 38 officials of Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) completed a three-month training in environmental management recently. Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) in collaboration with Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST) organised the training programme at MIST. After completion of the course, a certificate-giving ceremony was held at MIST recently, says a press release. Maj Gen Mohd Habibur Rahman Khan, Executive Chairman of BEPZA, was present at the certificate award ceremony as the chief guests. In his speech, Habibur Rahman said the primary objective of an EPZ is to provide special areas where potential investors would find a congenial investment climate, free from all sort of cumbersome procedures. Among others, Maj Gen Md Siddiqur Rahman Sarker, Commandant of MIST, Brig Gen F M Zahid Hossain, Dean, Faculty of Civil Engineering, and Col Shah Md Muniruzzaman, Head of Civil Engineering Department of MIST, also spoke on the occasion.

HR Textile Mills Limited declared 12.50 per cent cash dividend to its shareholders for the year ended 30th September 2014, says a press release The decision was made yesterday at the 30th annual general meeting of the mill held at Spectra Convention Centre at Gulshan-1 in the capital. Professor Mohammad Abdul Momen, chairman of the company, presided over the AGM. Director Muhammad Abdul Moyeen, and Independent Directors–Mushtaque Ahmed, Mohammad Kabiruzzaman and Company Secretary Md Wali Ullah were also present in the meeting.

Bangladesh’s apparel exports will hit US$50 billion in the foreseeable future, the head of apex trade body said. Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed, president of the Federation of Bangladesh chambers of Commerce and Industry, said that the country has established itself as a model for development in the world. “Bangladesh continues to grow and the women engaged in the readymade garment sector are playing a pivotal role in this regard. It is the main driving force of our economy,” he said. His comments came at the foundation laying of Sultan Habiba Fabrics Mills Ltd, a unit of Saad Musa Industrial Park at Anwara upazila Tuesday afternoon. The country has achieved its independence under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and “we are going to achieve our economic emancipation under the bold leadership of Sheikh Hasina,” he said. Chaired by managing director of Saad Musa Industrial Park Mohammed Mohsin, the function was attended as special guests as BGMEA first vice president Nasir Uddin Ahmed, Chittagong Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry vice president AM Mahbub Chowdhury, industrialist Md Ayub, BGMEA director Abdul Wahab and Anjan Shekhar Das. The meeting was attended by Saad Musa Industrial Park’s DMD Moinuddin Ahmed Chowdhury, director Mahmud Shah and Quamrul Hasan, executive director Golam Jamal Uddin, director (finance) Jahangir Alam and manager Nandan Kumar Datta. Akram said industries are now growing in the rural areas and the mufassil towns are being urbanised. Items of famous brands are being produced in those factories. “We will be competing with London and Singapore if the prevailing situation continues for another 15 years,” he said. Mohsin said at least 50,000 people will get job if the industrial park is implemented fully. He laid foundation of the plant by releasing balloons. Eight mills are already in operation in the industrial park including Rokeya Textile Mills Ltd, Saima Samira Textile Mills Ltd, Emdad Etima Spinning, Mahmud Sajid Cotton Mills and Rokeya Spinning Mills. About 10,000 workers have been employed in those industries, he said.