European buyers/retailers’ body Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh — signed on 15 May 2013 to build a safe and healthy Bangladeshi readymade garment industry in the aftermath of the Rana Plaza disaster — has warned the industry against sourcing squeeze if it is to depart the country this November.
“The consequences of a closure of the Accord liaison office in Bangladesh will be significant, immediate, and damaging,” reportedly underlined Deputy Director of the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh Joris Oldenziel while speaking to Reuters. He added, “The premature shut down of the Accord, leaving workers in unsafe circumstances, would jeopardize the brands’ ability to source from a safe industry.”
Bangladesh government had reportedly agreed to allow the body an extension to complete remaining safety fixes and help build up a national regulatory body to take over the Accord’s work. However, the country’s High Court has reportedly ordered it to wind up its operations in the country by November 30 this year.
The Accord will reportedly keep operating from the Netherlands and remain legally binding on its member companies, but it has warned signatories they may have to stop sourcing from about 500 factories with safety problems if it can no longer inspect them.
It may be mentioned here that the European Parliament recently passed a resolution asking Bangladesh to extend the tenure of the buyers’ body beyond November while underlining that significant work still remains unfinished on improving safety standards in the country’s apparel sector.
The resolution reportedly calls upon the European Commission to review the preferential trade status of Bangladesh, as the Government of Bangladesh is violating the conditions set out by the Accord, the Sustainability Compact and the terms of their most favourable trade arrangement with the EU.
“The Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh was signed between global apparel brands, retailers and trade unions; whereas to date, less than half of the factories covered by the accord have completed adequate safety measures; whereas the accord expired in October 2018, despite significant work remaining to be done; whereas the accord was succeeded by a Transition Accord to apply for three years,” reportedly maintained the resolution adding, “The Accord needs to be supported and all parties allowed to continue their work smoothly, including beyond November 2018.”
Bharat Tex Special Report 2026 
