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 The new
president of the apparel sector's apex trade body has voiced his
determination to ensure compliance in garment units in the
interest of retaining the world market share of Bangladeshi
apparel products.
SM Fazlul Huq formally took over the presidency of Bangladesh
Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) on July
16 this year.
Terming compliance as a crucial issue in an exclusive interview
with the Cotton Bangladesh in Dhaka recently, he said it will be
his first job to ensure compliance in the garment units.
Fazlul, managing director of Choice Group, becomes third of the
three presidents of the BGMEA, sharing the same post for eight
months each in line with a power-sharing consensus election held
in February last year.
He also underscored the need for enriching the mid-level
management system in the garment units for ensuring a better and
trust relationship between the workers and owners.
"Coordination between the workers and management is below to the
expectation level.....and to enhance the coordination it is
needed to increase the capability of mid-level management as the
mid-level management conveys the opinion of the owners to the
workers," the BGMEA chief said.
The BGMEA is working to create awareness and capability among
the mid-level manager. We are going to sign an agreement with
the International Labour Organization (ILO) soon to this
effect," Huq said.
On the issue of sick garment industries, which is a major issue
on his agenda, he said: "We are hopeful that the Ministry of
Finance will give its decision about the sick garment factories
very soon," he said. Earlier, a proposal was submitted to the
ministry seeking ways for revival of the sick garment units, he
informed.
"When the sick industries run their units in full swing with the
help government financial support, it will help us to achieve
our target of exporting apparels worth US$15 billion within next
five years," he hoped.
Commenting on the recent unrest in the garment sector of the
country, Huq said there is problems in every sector of the
country even in a family. "And we have to try to resolve the
problems. In this regard, I think there is a lack of trust among
the workers as well as the owners. So, we have create such a
platform that trust can be ensured among the all stakeholders in
the sector," he said.
"We are also thinking to make a proposal to the government to
appoint an ombudsman for the garment sector who will give
measures to any kind of problem in the sector," he said.
He also emphasized political stability for the betterment of the
country's overall economy.
Fazlu, a veteran freedom fighter, took up apparel business as
his career in 1984 and served as the first Vice-President of
BGMEA in 1993-1996 period. He also worked as a BGMEA Director in
1991-1992.
He was the Vice-President of Chittagong University Central
Student Union (CUCSU) from 1974-1977 and still involved with the
Chittagong University as a member of the university's Senate and
Syndicate. ¨
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