The country’s trade bodies of the apparel sector on Friday decided to keep the production in all readymade garment (RMG) factories closed on Saturday and Sunday for, what they said, ensuring proper treatment and completion of rescue operation successfully. The leaders of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) announced the decision at a joint press conference at the BGMEA Bhaban in the evening.
BGMEA President M Atiqul Islam, BKMEA President AKM Selim Osman, former BGMEA president Annisul Huq, former FBCCI President
AK Azad, and leaders of the BKMEA were present.
Earlier, the leaders of the trade bodies held meeting to take the decision amid fresh unrest in the garment industry and demonstrations by the garment workers. Meanwhile, eight
organisations of the garment workers today (Friday) called for a daylong strike on Sunday in all RMG factories across the country in support of their seven-point demand, including the arrest of Rana Plaza owner Sohel Rahna and owners of the garment factorieshoused in the building.
Prior to work abstention, the organisations working for garment workers’ rights will hold black flag processions across the country on Saturday apart from observing a dawn-to-dusk strike on the day.
The announcement came from a joint press briefing at Pragati Conference Center, Mukti Bhaban in the city. The organisations are Garments Sramik Oikya Forum; Garments Sramik Trade Union Kendra; and Garments Sramik Sangram Parishad comprising Bangladesh Textiles Garment Workers Federation, Garments Sramik Sanghati, Jago Bangladesh Garments Sramik Federation, Samannita Garments Sramik Federation, Bangladesh Garments Sramik Mukti Andolon and Biplabi Garments Sramik Sanghati.
So far, 304 bodies have been recovered from the debris of the building that crashed on Wednesday morning.
Courtesy of The Independent
