Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday opened the newly-constructed BGMEA Complex at Uttara, urging the garment owners to diversify their products and explore new markets to sustain the industry.
“We’ll have to sustain the garment industry as employments for a huge number of women have been created in the sector … its impact has reached up to the villages, improving the socioeconomic condition of the rural people,” she said while inaugurating the new BGMEA Complex through a videoconference from her official Ganabhaban residence in the capital on Saturday afternoon, reports agencies.
The prime minister said efforts will have to be made to bring new dimensions in design and colour of the products side by side exploring new markets.
“Progress has already been made in this regard. But we want progress be made further,” she said.
Mentioning that the government has adopted economic diplomacy, Sheikh Hasina said she has already asked Bangladesh missions abroad to find out new markets for Bangladeshi products.
Describing various welfare-oriented steps for the garment workers, the prime minister said their minimum wages have been hiked to Tk8,000 from Tk1,600 in 10 years.
“Besides, the government constructed a number of dormitories for the female workers and is providing financial assistance to them in the case of accidents,” she said.
About demolishing of the BGMEA Building at Hatirjheel, Sheikh Hasina said her government, during the 1996-2001 tenure, allocated land near Sonargaon Hotel for its construction.
“When I laid the foundation of the building at that time, I requested the authorities concerned time and again not to construct the building by stopping the Hatirjheel Canal,” she said.
“When we were not in state power after the 2001 elections, it is unfortunate that we saw the building was constructed on the canal … even a bridge was built to connect the building,” she added
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh remains in the second position in the field of garment export in the world. “This sector is making huge contributions to our economy,” she said.
The premier thanked the BGMEA for the construction of an eye- catching five-storey new building with a two-tower 15-storey foundation.
