The apex garment makers’ body in Bangladesh, the BGMEA, has sought the assistance of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in waiving Taka 686.32 crore worth of debt of 133 ailing factories even if the Prime Minister had committed to reschedule loans from 2010 to 2012 and to end the debts of these factories in the budget of FY2013-14 but due to various reasons, these 133 apparel units could not avail benefits of the scheme.
Media reports maintained while adding the President of the garment makers’ body (BGMEA), Faruque Hassan, reportedly, made this request to the Prime Minister even as according to the BGMEA, in the FY2013-14 budget, the Government had, reportedly, announced paying off the loans and interest of 269 ailing apparel units, but due to a host of reasons, 133 factories, reportedly, could not avail the advantage of the scheme while adding, later, when the lending banks filed a case against those units, court issued property seizure and arrest warrant orders against several borrowers.
“…since 1985, export-oriented apparel units have been playing a groundbreaking role in the socio-economic development of the country, including earning foreign currency,” reportedly, maintained the BGMEA President in his letter to the Prime Minister while adding that, however, from 1985-2005, 269 BGMEA-member factories, which played a pioneering role in the export earnings, closed down, while also adding owners of many of these 133 units are freedom fighters, and are currently living in dire straits and while many are suffering from severe health issues, many others have already passed away.
