Sammilita Parishad, a panel contesting the BGMEA election slated for March 9, has made a number of promises giving priority to developing and facilitating the growth of small and medium enterprises in the garment sector for a sustainable apparael business.
Diversifying both the market and the ready-made garment (RMG) items and branding the image of the industry would also be on the top agenda, if elected for the term of 2024-26, they said.
The panel pleged that they would work for a unified code of conduct for maintaining social, labour, and safety compliance audits once elected.
Chief election coordinator of Sammilito Parishad Siddiqur Rahman announced the election manifesto at a press conference held at Sonargaon Dhaka Hotel in Dhaka on Sunday.
Siddiqur Rahman introduced 35 panel members of the Parishad at the press conference.
In its manifesto, the Parishad said they would work for bringing down the bank interest rate to a single digit and for introducing a special exchange rate of the dollar for garment exporters.
Besides, they would create opportunity by easing access to finance and developing skilled human resources.
The panel also vowed to work for continuing the duty benefit to major markets even after the country graduates from the least developed country (LDC) category by 2026 and for obtaining GSP Plus status in the European Union.
They also promised that they would work to simplify the complexities by introducing a new Harmonised System (HS) code for product diversification and to ease the business of garments both in the export and import of raw materials.
Speaking among others at the event, Sammilita Parishad panel leader SM Mannan Kochi called for working together, especially in the crisis period, for the sustainability of the sector.
He noted that they incorporated young people along with experienced ones into their panel.
Forum, another panel led by Faisal Samad, is also contesting the election.
