After two years of import Lilliput Kids Wear Ltd of India has paid this month only $21,520 out of $5.5 million in total dues to 22 Bangladeshi apparel exporters.
The exporters said the Indian company paid a very little amount of the dues in the face of pressure from the Indian commerce department as the India-Bangladesh Joint Working Group discussed the issue at a meeting in New Delhi in June 13-14.
Bangladeshi garment businesses said the amount of payment made by Lilliput indicated that the company had no intention to pay the full amount.
A five-member Bangladeshi delegation took part in the meeting of the India-Bangladesh Joint Working Group on Trade.
During the meeting, the Indian side announced to release by the firm $21,520 out of $5.0 million in dues.
Jamal Hossain, managing director of Panshi Knit Pvt Ltd, said it was a tactic of Lilliput Kids Wear Ltd to make further delay and there was no hope about getting payment from the company.
He said that after the meeting with Bangladesh, Indira Murthy, director of the Indian commerce department put pressure on Liliput to make payment and the company agreed to pay only $21,520 to Panshi Knit Pvt Ltd.
Jamal said, ‘Lilliput owes my company $2.77 lakh and they paid only $21,520 in two phases on June 14 and 17.’
BGMEA vice-president Shahidullah Azim, however, hoped that the company would pay its dues and continue business with Bangladesh.
‘Though the company has paid a little amount of the dues, but we want to see the mater as an initiative to pay the full amount.’
Twenty-two Bangladeshi companies were supposed to get their payments in October-November 2011 but Lilliput delayed the payment and made a commitment to pay it by June 30, 2012.
In July 10, 2012 a meeting between Bangladesh and India was held in New Delhi under the chairmanship of Indira Murthy, director of the Indian commerce department.
At the meeting, Sanjeev Narula, chief managing director of Lilliput Kids Wear Ltd, signed an agreement with the Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association to pay the outstanding bills by January 2013 in several phases.
Lilliput is yet to pay any
dues to the exporters.
The 22 exporters are Mazkan Jeans Ltd, Vertex Apparels Ltd, Barat Sweater Ltd, A Plus Sweater, Sinha Fabrics Ltd, Anupam Fashions Ltd, Panshi Knit Pvt Ltd, Annesha Style Ltd, Hypoid Lingeries Ltd, Defoin Design Ltd, New Generation Fashion Ltd, Uttara Woven and Knit Ltd, DNS Sweaters Ltd, Gemini Garments Ltd, Ayesha Enterprise, IP Jack Knitting, T-Mart Computerised Sweater, Hallmark Designwear, Apparel Concept, Kent Fashion Ltd, Alif Garments and ND Apparels.
-With New Age input
