Apparel manufacturers have sought loan from the central bank for construction of dormitories for workers in the garment sector. They have also sought government help to relocate over 20-year-old plants from the city to the proposed garment village on the outskirts. “The central bank has a special credit fund for housing and the government can help Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters’ Association (BGMEA) members by giving loan at a one per cent rate of interest for constructing the dormitories,” said BGMEA president Abdus Salam Murshedy.
He was speaking at the launch ceremony of a scheme which will give a special monthly allowance to lactating mothers working in the sector industry at the BGMEA office on Sunday.
Murshedy added that women workers were suffering due to lack of dormitories near factory sites.
He added that most of them have to walk a long distance to reach their places of work due to dearth of low-cost residential facilities in areas near the plants.
“This exhausts the labourers leading to poor production output,” he said. Murshedy added that dormitories near factory sites will undoubtedly stimulate workers which would result in higher production.
The BGMEA president said most entrepreneurs were operating their plants by taking loan from banks to bag export orders. Therefore, they are incapable of constructing dormitories without government help. He added that time has come to relocate 20-year-old garments factories from the city to ease traffic movement.
Murshedy said the proposed garment village could be the priority option to relocate factories and that the government should take up the matter on a priority basis.
“At least, two garment villages are required outside Dhaka to relocate old garment factories from the city.
I hope the government will pay heed to our demand,” added Murshedy.
Among others present at the function were DG (directorate of social service) Ashraf Hossain, BGMEA’s first vice-president Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters’ Association’s (BKMEA) first vice-president Alhaj Habibur Rahman, BKMEA’s second vice-president Md Hatem, BGMEA vice-president (finance) Siddiqur Rahman, BGMEA director Nahid Hassan and director of the department of social service Nizamuddin Al Hossaini.

News: The Independent/ Bangladesh/ Feb-28-2011