Dhaka: Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) president Siddiqur Rahman said on Saturday that a vested quarter continues to criticize and spread propaganda against a safe and transparent industry in the name of ‘so-called’ research.

He made the remark at a press conference held at BGMEA conference room ahead of the fifth anniversary of Rana Plaza disaster on April 24, reports the UNB.

Mentioning the incident as a wake-up call and turning point for the industry, he said ‘BGMEA is working more to ensure safe, risk-free and build sustainable industry. So the whole world has recognizing our garment industry as the ‘role model’ for the safe and transparent industry.’

‘Garments are now being established after fulfilling the conditions of Alliance and following the directions of BNBC. BGMEA is now more alert in providing new membership to ensure the safety at high level though every garment gets the certificate from the government providing all necessary things. Even we have established a directive for the sub-contracting garments too,’ he said.

He informed that a ‘Transitional Accord’ for six months will start their work from June 1. There will be monitoring committee with equal numbers of representatives from Brands, BGMEA and also trade Union. Safety Monitoring Organisation (SMO) will be another platform for checking the safety after the completion of the six month period of Accord. A signing ceremony will be held very soon between BGEMA and Alliance.

‘Though we are working to develop our industry relentlessly, a vested quarter is also trying to spread propaganda in name of so called research. Any type of negative campaign will affect the labourers much more than the industry,’ he added.

He also added that any type of accident is unexpected, casualty is more unexpected. Though accidents are happening across the world, huge criticism and propaganda are made during the Rana Plaza Collapse. The vested quarters are only highlighting the negative aspect, not discussing the positive side, he alleged.        

The Rana Plaza collapse in 2013 was a structural failure where a five-story commercial building named Rana Plaza, housing several RMG units, collapsed leaving 1,134 people dead and over 2,500 others injured.