|
Duty-free access of garments
Bill to be tabled in US Congress Feb 16
2/13/2005
A bill on duty free access of Bangladeshi garments to US market will be placed in the US Congress on February 16, officials with the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) said Saturday.
BGMEA president Annisul Huq told newsmen that all process had been completed to submit the bill in the Congress.
He said the tabling of the bill will be followed by hearing and debate during March-April and a decision is expected to come by September this year.
"The Congress is expected to discuss labour situation in Bangladesh's garment industry during the debate," Annisul said.
He said the BGMEA will invite 8-10 Senators and Congressmen to visit Bangladesh to see the real condition in garment industry.
Meanwhile, the government on Saturday formed a seven-member committee to prepare a report on sick garment industries and recommend the government about possible help to revive those units.
The inter-ministerial committee will place their primary report to the commerce ministry within a week, said ministry sources.
Industry sources said there are about 1600 garment factories reported sick over the past few years.
Higher interest rates, high cost of utilities and lack of infrastructure facilities are among the causes responsible for making some of the garment industries sick.
On Saturday, a group of owners of sick industries met the commerce advisor Barkatulla Bulu in his office.
Under the banner of BGMEA Sick Apparel Community (BSAC) the group demanded that all the sick industries owners should be included in BGMEA voter list before the election.
Engineer Abul Kalam president of BSAC and Quazi Moniruzzaman, former president of the BGMEA were among the BSAC team.
|