In the current national situation, an exchange of views meeting was held at the Padma Hall of Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Kawran Bazar at 11:00 AM on 12/08/2024. The meeting was organized by Mr. Md. Shahriar, President of “Bangladesh Garments Accessories and Packaging Manufacturers and Exporters Association” (BGAPMEA), a trade organization representing over two thousand export-oriented garments accessories and packaging industries.
Leaders from more than 20 organizations, including export-oriented industrial institutions, participated in the exchange of views meeting. Notable attendees included Mr. Md. Shahriar, President of BGAPMEA; Mr. Shawkat Aziz Russell, President of Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA); Mr. Mohammad Hatem, Executive President of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA); Mr. Abdullah-Hil-Rakib, Vice President of BGMEA; Mr. Shams Mahmud, former President of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) and President of the Thai Chamber; Kazi Moniruzzaman, former President of BGMEA; Mr. Abul Kasem Haider, former President of BGAPMEA, former Vice President of FBCCI, and current President of Bangladesh Sewing Thread Manufacturers and Exporters Association; Mr. Abrar Hossain Sayem, President of Bangladesh Apparel Youth Leaders Alliance (BAYLA); Mr. Kabir Ahmed, President of Freight Forwarders Association; Mr. Shafiullah Chowdhury, former President of BGAPMEA and Vice President of Exporters Association of Bangladesh (EAB); Mr. Mohammad Pavel, President of Bangladesh Garments Buying House Association (BGBA); Mr. A.H.M. Moin Uddin, President of Bangladesh Association of Precursor Solvent Manufacturers (BAPSM); Mr. K.M. Iqbal, Vice President of BPJGMEA; Mr. Shahadat Hossain, former President of BTTLMIEA; and Mirza Nurul Ghani Shovon, President of the National Association of Small and Cottage Industries of Bangladesh (NASCIB), among others.
The meeting started with a welcome speech by Mr. Rafeez Alam Chowdhury, former President of BGAPMEA, who briefly introduced BGAPMEA and the purpose of the exchange of views meeting. He emphasized the need for improvement in law and order as a priority in the current situation. Following the introductory session, he requested Mr. Mohammad Hatem, Executive President of BKMEA, to conduct the meeting.
Mr. Mohammad Hatem praised the timely initiative of Mr. Md. Shahriar, President of BGAPMEA, and invited him to deliver his keynote address.
Mr. Md. Shahriar, President of BGAPMEA, expressed his condolences for those who lost their lives in the anti-discrimination movement and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. He congratulated the internationally renowned economist and Nobel laureate, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, on assuming the role of Chief Adviser and extended his best wishes to the other advisers. He hoped for the success of the interim government formed for its intended purpose. Mr. Shahriar highlighted the limited government-provided facilities compared to the investment and risks undertaken by export-oriented industrial institutions. He mentioned that obtaining these facilities often involves years of harassment by relevant government service providers, wasting money, labor, and time. He further mentioned that several export-oriented industries have suffered losses due to vandalism and arson in recent days. Mr. Shahriar emphasized the need for financial compensation for the affected industries and the necessity to address possible challenges in the current situation by determining the appropriate course of action.
Mr. Shawkat Aziz Russell, President of BTMA, mentioned that earlier, the sources of investment in the industry were not scrutinized, which led to increased investment, and gradually, incentives have decreased. He welcomed the decision to increase gas supply to industrial factories and to import fertilizer.
Mr. Abdullah-Hil-Rakib, Vice President of BGMEA, mentioned that regional security committees have been formed in coordination with BGMEA members and community police. He demanded the safe transfer of goods from warehouses, a six-month suspension of electricity disconnection for damaged industries to allow them to resume business, accurate government statistical data, postponement of LDC graduation, a reorganization of NBR, formulation of industrial policies through industry owners, provision of soft loans for two months, and the formulation of a business-friendly policy by changing the block business policy of Bangladesh Bank.
Mr. Shams Mahmud, former President of DCCI and President of the Thai Chamber, proposed postponing the LDC graduation for 10 years due to statistical discrepancies, resolving the harassment by the National Board of Revenue (NBR), ensuring justice by the judiciary, and commenting that there is now a right to speak independently regarding ‘Trade Policy.’
Kazi Moniruzzaman, former President of BGMEA, proposed compiling the problems of all organizations and presenting them to the government, removing the Chairman of NBR, and presenting demands to the government on a larger scale.
Mr. Abul Kasem Haider, former President of BGAPMEA, former Vice President of FBCCI, and current President of Bangladesh Sewing Thread Manufacturers and Exporters Association, mentioned that for the past 15 years, businessmen could not speak their minds, there was no platform for free speech, and FBCCI was politicized. He expressed hope that there would now be a platform for business discussions, BGMEA would transform from a political platform to a business platform, the 26% bank interest rate would be reduced to a reasonable level, gas and electricity prices would be reduced, and the gas price for industrial establishments would not be increased for a specific period. He expressed confidence that the current Chief Adviser, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, who is a brand in Bangladesh, would be able to attract foreign investment.
Mr. Abrar Hossain Sayem, President of BAYLA, proposed a one-month plan to change the image of Bangladesh’s hand-made industry.
Mr. Kabir Ahmed, President of Freight Forwarders Association, mentioned their role in assisting import-export activities and demanded the establishment of a system for easy unloading and shipping of goods while ensuring safety and security.
Mr. Shafiullah Chowdhury, former President of BGAPMEA and Vice President of EAB, demanded ensuring security and confidence in business operations.
Mr. Mohammad Pavel, President of BGBA, stated that their organization generates $10-12 billion in export revenue by connecting with BGMEA and BKMEA, and demanded policy support.
Mr. A.H.M. Moin Uddin, President of BAPSM, demanded accurate data on import-export activities.
Mr. K.M. Iqbal, Vice President of BPJGMEA, mentioned that the time for LDC graduation is not yet appropriate, proposed that NBR should not be involved in revenue collection, stressed the need to pay attention to sectors outside the RMG sector as per World Bank advice, and demanded the formulation of a policy supportive of industrial establishment.
Mr. Shahadat Hossain, former President of BTTLMIEA, expressed hope that through the Chief Adviser, duty-free and quota-free facilities would be obtained.
Mr. Mohiuddin, President of the Basic Owners Association, stated that their organization has 13,000 members and commented that they would be vocal in ensuring their demands.
Mr. Rafeez Alam Chowdhury, former President of BGAPMEA, demanded incentives for the export sector similar to those provided to various industrial sectors in the past. He also proposed solving the issues submitted to NBR, reducing government expenses, providing equal opportunities for direct and indirect exporters in line with industrial, textile, and export policies, and offering incentives to the garments accessories and packaging sector. Additionally, he suggested that BGMEA, BKMEA, BTMA, and BGAPMEA should jointly present demands to the government.
Former FBCCI President Mr. Abdul Awal Mintoo thanked BGAPMEA President Md. Shahriar and others for organizing the exchange of views meeting to determine the course of action for maintaining the national export momentum amidst the current situation. He prayed for the departed souls of those who lost their lives in the anti-discrimination movement and congratulated the interim government. He emphasized the importance of keeping business free from political thuggery, allowing business organizations to express their opinions freely, ensuring the equal application of law, and mentioned that politics and the economy are complementary to each other. He urged business organizations to present their demands directly to the interim government collectively.
Finally, the organizer of the exchange of views meeting, Mr. Md. Shahriar, President of BGAPMEA, expressed his gratitude and thanks to all for participating in the much-needed meeting in the current situation. He also demanded the extension of the LDC graduation period until 2032 and the reinstatement of the GSP facility in the US market. Additionally, he proposed the formation of a common platform/coordination committee with the related trade organizations to unify and present all demands of export-oriented trade organizations to the government.
In conclusion, Mr. Mohammad Hatem, Executive President of BKMEA and the moderator of the event, proposed the following: the removal of the Chairman of the National Board of Revenue, the postponement of LDC graduation due to inaccurate export data, the creation of a roadmap for the course of action through meetings of export-oriented organizations to maintain the national export momentum amidst the current situation, the cancellation of the increased gas price and the re-determination of gas prices for the industrial sector after reviewing international prices, the separation of policy formulation and revenue collection into different institutions as part of NBR reform, the provision of financial and policy support to all affected industries after on-site inspections during the anti-discrimination movement, and the determination of necessary steps to ensure hassle-free and easy service from the customs authorities.
