Say economists, exporters
The Savar tragedy is another blow in the international market for the country’s readymade garment industry which is yet to recover from the effects of
Tazreen factory fire, said economists and garment exporters.
More than 100 people, most of them garment workers, were killed, 500 were injured and scores of others were trapped when an nine-storey building, Rana Plaza, which housed five garment factories and other shops, collapsed at Savar on Wednesday.
‘It is a very sad incident as so many lives have been wasted. This latest tragedy took place when the entire garment sector is going through a tough time,’ said Centre for Policy Dialogue executive director Mustafizur Rahman.
He said the incident will draw the focus on workplace safety once again after the Tazreen fire incident.
‘Workplace safety is also a concern for retaining the GSP [generalised system of preference] facility in the market of USA,’ he pointed out.
The RMG sector, which has been under severe criticism and scrutiny from international community and buyers for the last few years for lacking workplace safety, came under more pressure after 112 workers were killed in a devastating fire at Tazreen factory in November, 2012.
‘The Tazreen fire issue is still haunting the country’s garment sector in the international markert. Today’s building collapse will be another blow for the sector,’ Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies senior research fellow Nazneen Ahmed told New Age on Wednesday.
She said the foreign buyers will impose tougher conditions on the country’s garments manufacturers.
‘The GSP issue and other conditions will be in a tight spot again,’ she said.
Bangladesh is trying to retain the GSP facility which is under threat following the Tazreen fire incident.
The international buyers are also under pressure from their consumers to take products from compliant RMG factories.
Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association former vice-president Faruk Hasan said the accident will have a long-term negative impact on the buyers.
‘The foreign embassies are closely monitoring the situation and already reacted negatively on the incident. It will have a long-term negative impact on the buyers,’ he said.
Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association vice-president Md Hatem said the Saver accident is a tragic accident and the garments sector have to pay the price for it.
‘It will have a severe negative impact on the RMG sector. It will take us long to recover such a blow.’ he said.
-With New Age input
