In order to determine what should be done in the current situation of the country, on the initiative of Md. Shahriar, President of Bangladesh Garment Accessories and Packaging Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGAPMEA), a commercial organization representing over two thousand export-oriented garment accessories and packaging industries, on 12 August 2024 Monday morning in Dhaka. An exchange meeting was held in Padma Hall of Pacific Sonargaon Hotel with the leaders of several related commercial organizations including export-oriented commercial organizations.
Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), BGMEA, Thai Chamber of Commerce, Bangladesh Swing Thread Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Bangladesh Apparel Youth Leaders Alliance (BAILA), Freight Forwarders Association, Exporters Association of Bangladesh (EAB), Bangladesh Garments Buying House Association (BGBA), Bangladesh Association of Precursor Solvent Manufacturers (BAPSM), BPGMEA, BTTLMEA, National Small and Cottage Industries Association (NASIB) along with organizing organization BGAPMEA i.e. export oriented and more than 21 export oriented commercial organizations. And the leaders of the chamber participated. Present and former leaders of BGAPMEA Board of Directors were present on the occasion.
Rafez Alam Chowdhury, former president of BGAPMEA welcomed everyone at the beginning. At the end of the introductory session, he briefed everyone about the BGAPMEA and informed about the purpose of the exchange meeting and opined that the law and order situation needs to be improved on a priority basis in the current situation. He then requested BKMEA Executive President Mohammad Hatim to conduct the meeting.
Mohammad Hatim appreciated the convener of the exchange meeting and president of BGAPMEA Md. Shahriar for his timely initiative and requested him to deliver a speech.
President of BGAPAMEA Md. Shahriar prayed for the souls of those killed in the anti-discrimination movement and for the speedy recovery of the injured. Internationally renowned economist, Nobel laureate, respected Dr. Muhammad Yunus congratulated him and other advisers on taking over as Chief Adviser. He wished the success of the Interim Government for the purpose for which it was formed. He said that compared to the amount of investment and risk with which exporting industrial companies conduct their business, the facilities provided by the government are very insufficient. To get the facilities provided by the government, one has to be harassed by the government institutions providing the related services for years. All three cost money, labor and time. Over the past few days, many exporting industries have been affected by vandalism and arson. He expressed the opinion that it is necessary to compensate the financial losses of the affected industrial establishments and to get the services related to the export activities without harassment and to deal with the possible problems in the current situation.
Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) president Shaukat Aziz Russell opined that previously the sources of investment in the industry were not explored, as a result of which the investment would have increased, incentives have gradually decreased, one in ten people are employed in export-oriented industries. He welcomed the decision to increase gas supply to industrial plants and import fertilizers.
BGMEA Vice-President Abdullah-Hill-Raqib said that area-based security committees have been formed comprising members of BGMEA and community police. He demanded for safe transfer of goods from warehouses, opportunity to return to business without disconnection of electricity connection of sick and damaged industrial establishments for six months. Moreover, he demanded delaying the time of LDC graduation as the official statistical information was not correct, NBR should be adjusted, industrial policy should be formulated by the owner of the industrial establishment, soft loan arrangement for two months, Bangladesh Bank’s blocked business policy should be changed to a business supportive policy.
Shams Mahmud, the former president of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industries (DCCI) and president of Thai Chamber, proposed delaying the LCD transition by 10 years, ending the harassment of the National Board of Revenue, and ensuring that the justice department provides justice. He commented that the right to free speech has been created regarding ‘trade policy’.
Former president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Kazi Moniruzzaman proposed to present the problems of all the organizations together to the government, remove the chairman of NBR and present the demands to the government on a larger scale.
Former president of BGAPMEA, former vice-president of FBCCI and current president of Bangladesh Swing Thread Manufacturers and Exporters Association Abul Kasem Haider said that for the last 15 years traders could not speak their mind, there was no free forum to speak, FBCCI was factionalized, political speech instead of business in trade meetings. would have been He expressed hope that the current business forum would be a talking point, BGMEA would become a business platform instead of a party platform, 16% bank interest rate would be brought to bearable level, gas and electricity prices would be reduced, gas prices would be increased for a certain period for industrial establishments. Will not, the current chief adviser. Muhammad Yunus is a brand of Bangladesh. He will be able to bring in foreign investment.
Bangladesh Apparel Youth Leaders Association (BAILA) President Abrar Hossain Sayem proposed a month-long plan to change the brand image of Bangladesh.
President of Freight Forwarders Association Kabir Ahmed mentioned that they help in the import-export activities and claimed that there is a need to ensure safety and security of the cargo and easy shipping.
Shafiullah Chowdhury, former president of BGAPMEA and vice-president of Exporters Association of Bangladesh (EAB), demanded to ensure security and confidence in business operations.
Bangladesh Garments Buying House Association (BGBA) president Mohammad Pavel demanded policy support by linking up with BGMEA and BKMEA, saying that 10-12 billion US dollars are earned through them.
President of Bangladesh Association of Precursor Solvent Manufacturers (BAPSM) AHM Moin Uddin demanded to determine the correct data of import and export.
KM Iqbal, vice-president of BPGMEA, demanded that the LDC graduation was not timed, that the National Board of Revenue should not be tasked with revenue collection, give importance to sectors other than the RMG sector as suggested by the World Bank, and formulate supportive policies for setting up industries.
Former president of BTTLMEA Shahadat Hossain expressed hope that duty and quota free facilities will be available through the chief advisor.
Bisik Malik Samiti president Mohiuddin said that there are 13 thousand members in his organization and said that they will be vocal in realizing their demands.
The former president of BGAPMEA Rafez Alam Chowdhury demanded incentives in favor of the exporting sector just like the financial incentives given in favor of various sectors of the industry in the past. Solving the issues submitted to NBR, reducing government expenditure, providing opportunities to direct and indirect exporters in the light of industrial policy, textile policy and export policy, providing incentives to the garment accessories and packaging sector and bringing together 4 organizations BGMEA, BKMEA, BTMA and BGAPMEA to the government. He proposed to present the claims.
Former President of FBCCIA Abdul Awal Mintu thanked BGAPMEA President Md Shahriar and others for organizing a meeting to decide what to do between the export and export related business organizations to continue the trend of national exports in the current situation of the country. He prayed for the souls of those killed in the anti-discrimination movement and congratulated the interim government. Moreover, he emphasized on political corruption in business, business organizations should be free from politics and freely express their views, equal application of law and said that politics and economy are complementary and complementary to each other and business organizations should come together and present their demands directly to the interim government.
Md. Shahriar, the organizer of the discussion meeting, President of BGAPMEA expressed his gratitude and thanks to everyone for participating in the meeting which is very necessary in the current situation. At the same time, he demanded extension of LDC graduation deadline till 2032 and reinstatement of GSP facility in US market. Moreover, he proposed the formation of a common platform/co-ordination committee comprising of the concerned commercial organizations to consolidate all the demands of the export-oriented commercial organizations and submit their demands to the government.
Finally, the organizer of the event, BKMEA executive president Mohammad Hatem, demanded the removal of the chairman of the National Board of Revenue, to request the interim government to temporarily suspend the transition to LDC as the export data was proved to be inaccurate, and to continue the national export trend in the current situation, the exporting organizations should hold a meeting together. Formulation of a framework, revising the international price of gas by revising international prices, reforming the National Board of Revenue with the aim of formulating policies and collecting revenue through separate institutions, providing financial and policy support to all industrial establishments affected by the anti-discrimination movement by visiting them on the ground if necessary. And suggest measures to be taken to get easy and hassle free service from customs authorities.