Close on heels of Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh’s reported communication with its signatory brands and buyers allegedly calling upon them to discontinue business ties with around 532 RMG factories that have reportedly failed to achieve the remediation targets, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has come down on the buyers’ body while maintaining that the list of 532 factories prepared by Accord is flawed.
“The majority of the factories in the list are close to completing their remediation work as per the recommendations of the Accord experts,” stated BGMEA President Siddiqur Rahman while speaking to the media, adding, “Not only that, many of the factories on it are not in operation anymore.”
As per media reports, Accord in its letter to the buyers reportedly stated that of 532 units, around 139 are currently under the second phase of Accord’s escalation process while 393 more are under the first phase of escalation, as these units have reportedly failed to complete the remediation work mandated by the buyers’ platform.
“Brands currently sourcing from these factories will be required to terminate their business relationship in accordance with Article 16 of the Accord and time-frame set forth in the Accord Escalation Protocol,” reportedly stated the letter written by Accord to the buyers and brands.
Such a step from Accord which is supposed to leave the country after the end of this month, has not only created a flutter amongst the business community in the country but has infuriated the country’s Commerce Minister as well.
“We cannot accept this… This is so sad,” reportedly maintained Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed while addressing a programme on compliance in Bangladesh’s garment sector at a Dhaka hotel recently, adding, “What progress has the Accord made here in Bangladesh? After five years they could only handover 20 out of more than 1,600 factories they have inspected so far.”
