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In the present situation of the country, Mr. Md. Shahriar, the president of Bangladesh Garment Accessories and Packaging Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGAPMEA), a commercial organization representing 100% export-oriented garment accessories and packaging industries, Pan Pacific Sonargaon at Kawran Bazar on 12/08/2024 at 11 am. An exchange meeting was held with the leaders of several related commercial organizations including export-oriented commercial organizations at Padma Hall of the hotel.
Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), BGMEA, Thai Chamber of Commerce, Bangladesh Swing Thread Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Bangladesh Apparel Youth Leaders Association (BAYALA), Freight Forwarders Association, Exporters Ass Ossiation of Bangladesh (EAB), Bangladesh Garments Buying House Association (BGBA), Bangladesh Association of Precursor Solvent Manufacturers BAPSM), BPGMEA, BTTLMEA, National Small and Cottage Industries Association (NASIB) including organizing organization BGAPMEA i.e. export-oriented and more than 21 export-oriented commercial organizations and The leaders of the chamber participated. Present and former leaders of BGAPMEA Board of Directors were present on the occasion
Former president of BGAPMEA Mr. Rafez Alam Chowdhury welcomed everyone at the beginning. At the end of the introductory session, he briefed everyone about BGAPMEA and informed about the purpose of the exchange meeting and opined that the law and order situation needs to be improved on priority basis in the present situation. He then requested the Executive President of BKMEA Mr. Mohammad Hatim to conduct the meeting.
Mr. Mohammad Hatim appreciated the timely initiative of Mr. Md. Shahriar, convener of the exchange meeting and president of BGAPMEA and requested him to deliver the introductory speech.
President of BGAPAMEA Mr. Md. Shahriar prayed for the souls of those killed in the anti-discrimination movement and for the speedy recovery of the injured. Internationally renowned economist, Nobel Prize winner, respected Dr. Muhammad Yunus congratulated Teekay and other advisers on taking over as Chief Adviser. He wished the success of the Interim Government for the purpose for which it was formed. He said that compared to the amount of investment and risk with which exporting industrial companies operate their business, the facilities provided by the government are very insufficient. To get the facilities provided by the government, one has to be harassed by the government institutions providing the related services for years. All three cost money, labor and time. Over the past few days, many exporting industries have been affected by vandalism and arson. He expressed the opinion that it is necessary to compensate the financial losses of the affected industries and to get the services related to export activities without harassment and to deal with the possible problems in the current situation.
The President of Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) Mr. Shaukat Aziz Russell expressed the opinion that previously the sources of investment in the industry were not investigated, as a result of which the investment would have increased, the incentive has gradually decreased, one out of every ten people is employed in the export-oriented industries. He welcomed the decision to increase gas supply to industrial plants and import fertilizers.
Mr. Abdullah-Hill-Raqib, Vice President of BGMEA, said that a regional security committee has been formed comprising members of BGMEA and community police. He demanded safe transfer of goods from the warehouse, provision of opportunity to return to business without disconnection of electricity connection of flooded and damaged industrial establishments for six months. Moreover, he demanded delaying the time of LDC graduation as the official statistical information was not correct, NBR should be adjusted, industrial policy should be formulated by the owner of the industrial establishment, soft loan arrangement for two months, Bangladesh Bank’s blockade business policy should be changed to a business support policy.
Mr. Shams Mahmud, the former president of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industries (DCCI) and president of Thai Chamber, proposed to delay the LCD transition by 10 fleets because the statistics were average, to end the harassment of the National Board of Revenue, and to ensure that justice is delivered by the judiciary. He commented that the right to free speech has been created in relation to “trade policy”.
Former president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Kazi Moniruzzaman proposed to present the problems of all the organizations together to the government, remove the chairman of NBR and present the demands to the government on a larger scale.
Former president of BGAPMEA, former vice-president of FBCCI and current president of Bangladesh Swing Grade Manufacturers and Exporters Association Mr. Abul Kasem Haider said that for the past 15 years traders could not speak their minds, there was no free forum to speak, FBCCI was factionalized, business meetings were political instead of business. There was a speech. He expressed hope that the current business forum would be a talking point, BGMEA would become a business platform instead of a party platform, 16% bank interest rate would be brought to a tolerable level, gas and electricity prices would be reduced, gas prices would be hiked for a certain period for industrial establishments. Will not, the current chief adviser. Muhammad Yunus is a brand of Bangladesh. He will be able to bring in foreign investment.
Mr. Abrar Hossain Sayem, president of Bangladesh Apparel Youth Leaders Association (BAILA) proposed a month-long plan to change the brand image of Bangladesh.
The President of Freight Forwarders Association Mr. Kabir Ahmed said that Tira supports the import-export activities and asserted that there is a need to ensure the safety and security of the cargo and easy shipping!
Former President of BGAPMEA and Vice President of Exporters Association of Bangladesh (EAB) Mr. Shafiullah Chowdhury demanded to ensure security and confidence in business operations.
President of Bangladesh Garments Buying House Association (BGBA) Mr. Mohammad Pavel demanded policy support by connecting with BGMEA and BKMEA that 10-12 billion US dollars are earned through them.
President of Bangladesh Association of Precursor Solvent Manufacturers (BAPSM) AHM Moin Uddin demanded to determine the correct data of import-export.
Mr. KM Iqbal, Vice President of BPGMEA, demanded that the LDC graduation was not timed, that the National Board of Revenue should not be tasked with revenue collection, give importance to sectors other than the RMG sector as suggested by the World Bank, and formulate supportive policies for setting up industries.
Mr. Shahadat Hossain, former president of BTTLMEA, expressed hope that quota and quota free benefits will be available through the chief advisor.
Bisik Malik Samiti President Janagher Mohiuddin said that there are 13,000 members in his organization and said that Tira will be vocal in realizing their demands.
The former president of BGAPMEA Mr. Rafez Alam Chowdhury demanded incentives in favor of the exporting sector as well as financial incentives in favor of various sectors of the industry. Solving the issues submitted to NBR, reducing government expenditure, providing opportunities to direct and indirect exporters in the light of industrial policy, textile policy and export policy, providing incentives to the garment accessories and packaging sector and jointly 4 organizations BGMEA, BKMEA, BTMA and BGAPMEA to the government. He proposed to present the claims.
Mr. Abdul Awal Mintu, former president of FBCCIA, thanked BGAPMEA president Md. Shahriar and others for organizing the exchange meeting to decide what to do between export and export related business organizations to continue the trend of national exports in the current situation of the country. He sought forgiveness for those killed in the anti-discrimination movement and congratulated the interim government. Moreover, he emphasized on political impoverishment in business, business organizations should be free from politics and freely express their opinion, equal application of law, politics and economy are complete and complementary to each other and called on business organizations to come together and present their demands directly to the interim government.
The organizer of the discussion meeting, the President of BGAPMEA Mr. Md Shahriar responded to the invitation and expressed his gratitude and thanks to everyone for participating in the meeting which is very necessary in the current situation. At the same time, he demanded extension of LDC graduation deadline till 2032 and reinstatement of GSP facility in US market. Moreover, he proposed the formation of a common platform form/coordination committee of the concerned commercial organizations to consolidate all the demands of the export-oriented commercial organizations and make demands to the government.
Finally, the organizer of the event, BKMEA Executive President Mr. Mohammad Hatem, demanded the removal of the chairman of the National Board of Revenue, to request the interim government to temporarily suspend the transition to LDC as the export data proved to be inaccurate, and to continue the national export trend in the current situation, the exporting organizations should meet together. Formulation of an outline, revising the international price of gas by revising the international price, reforming the National Board of Revenue with the aim of formulating policies and collecting revenue through separate institutions, conducting on-the-ground visits to all industrial establishments affected by the anti-discrimination movement and providing financial and policy support. Suggest measures to be taken to ensure easy and hassle-free access to services from donors and customs authorities.
