On Tuesday (July 8, 2025) a meeting was held at the BGMEA office between the Board of BGMEA and the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 9th Infantry Division and Area Commander, Savar Area, Bangladesh Army. The meeting focused on the overall security and law and order situation in the readymade garment sector.
The meeting was led by BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan and GOC Major General Md. Moin Khan, OSP, ndc, psc on behalf of their respective sides. It was attended by BGMEA board directors, chairpersons and managing directors of various factories, as well as representatives from the Army, Industrial Police, DGFI, and NSI.
BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan expressed deep appreciation for the role of the Bangladesh Army, especially its patience and prudence during past national crises, and commended the support of joint forces in protecting the garment industry during difficult times. He thanked the Army for its continued cooperation.
Key issues discussed in the meeting included the increasing frequency of sudden strikes by workers over non-legitimate demands, road blockades, vandalism of nearby factories, and protests in EPZ areas by outsiders demanding jobs. Even incidents of unrest are being incited by rumors and targeted instigation by specific groups.
Factory owners expressed serious concern over the rise of “jhut terrorism” — criminal groups trying to dominate the textile waste (jhut) sector, forming teenage gangs, creating unrest, and harassing both employers and workers in industrial zones. They sought assistance from the Army in tackling these threats.
In response, Major General Moin Khan reaffirmed the Army’s strong commitment to ensuring law and order in industrial areas, recognizing the RMG sector as a pillar of the national economy. He emphasized, however, that external security efforts alone will not be effective if internal labour issues are not addressed. He shared that a comprehensive security master plan is being developed.
He also mentioned a proposal to set up an auction house for jhut, which would allow factories to manage textile waste more efficiently and avoid the influence of criminal groups.
The GOC urged factory owners to ensure timely payment of wages and dues and provide accurate information to support security efforts. He reassured that the Army stands ready to respond to any external threats to the industry.
The meeting also discussed the possibility of forming a confederation of labour federations to foster a long-term peaceful industrial environment.
Among those present were BGMEA Senior Vice President Inamul Haq Khan (Babul), Vice Presidents Md. Rezwan Selim, Mijanur Rahman, Md. Shehab Udduza Chowdhury, and other board directors.
