Unsafe units will lose membership: BGMEA

In the wake of the worst-ever disaster in the suburban township of Savar, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) on Saturday took some firm decisions to check recurrence of such ‘accidents’ in future.   

The authorities of all readymade garment factories have been asked to submit their structural design assessment and load management reports to the BGMEA and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) within a month so as to improve safety measures.

The apex organisation of the country’s export-oriented apparel business also asked the owners of all garment units to shift generators to the ground floor from other floors.

The BGMEA took the decision at an emergency meeting held at the BGMEA Bhaban in the city’s Hatirjheel area.

BGMEA Vice President SM Mannan Kochi told reporters of the decisions after the meeting. Former BGMEA President Abdus Salam Murshedy was also present at the press briefing.

“Membership of the factories concerned will be suspended if any anomaly is found in the structural design assessment and load management reports,” he said.

He said the initiative was being taken in a bid to change the negative attitude of overseas buyers and enhance safety of this industry following the collapse of Rana Plaza in Savar.

Kochi demanded that the owner of the collapsed nine-storied commercial building in Savar, those who designed the high-rise and those authorised the design be arrested immediately and brought to justice.

He also said the BGMEA and the BKMEA decided to float a fund – Disaster Relief Fund – to help the Savar building collapse victims and their families.

The member factories of the BGMEA and the BKMEA were asked to contribute minimum Tk 25,000 to the fund within a week.

On behalf of the BKMEA, its first Vice President Md Hatem handed over a cheque for Tk 10 million to BGMEA President Atiqul Islam at the meeting.

Besides, the apex trade body of the country’s apparel sector decided to float the fund to tackle such unforeseen situations in the future.