The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association has sensed a campaign of industrial sabotage in Saturday’s protests of garment workers at Tongi, which, its leaders have said, was aimed at crowding out the country of the global clothing market. At a hurriedly-called press conference attended by two members of the parliament, who are also the factory owners, the association leaders Saturday censured some online news services for airing reports of workers’ deaths, which police did not confirm.

The industry owners’ club defended the Nippon Garment owner, who had abruptly closed down the unit sparking workers’ protest. ‘We are sensing an act of sabotage behind the destruction and lawlessness at Tongi this morning,’ BGMEA president Abdus Salam Murshedy said. Tipu Munshi MP, a former president of the association and Israfil Ahmed MP, a member, shared similar observations. Tipu said he had immediately contacted the SP of Gazipur who was quoted in the death news aired by some online news services. ‘The SP said he did not say anything such.’

Circulating news of deaths of workers is very sensitive and enough to infuriate the mob, said Tipu. ‘The situation could turn even worse.’ Only one out of 14 injured people taken to hospital was a worker of Nippon Garment, the former BGMEA chief cited to substantiate his doubt that ‘some vested interest quarters have instigated workers.’ Israfil Ahmed MP urged the government to remain cautious against ‘local agents of foreign elements’ that might have been working to create unrest in Bangladesh’s garment industry. Due to global market recession, many foreign elements are in a frantic move to grab Bangladesh’s share in the global apparel market, he said without elaborating.

The BGMEA president pointed out that despite having inadequate orders Nippon was continuing its operation by taking subcontract jobs from other factories. The factory owner was obliged to notify one month’s leave to factory workers at the eleventh hour as a transport company captured three lots of fabrics of Nippon, which failed to pay Tk 20 lakh in bill arrears, Murshedy argued. Even then, Nippon did not owe its workers any due wages and the factory notified its workers to receive October salary on November 10. Although they admitted that Nippon owner did not inform the BGMEA of the abrupt closure of the factory, both Murshedy and Tipu defended the factory owner’s notification of one month’s leave for all workers. Israfil Ahmed, however, pointed to a legal grey area and said it was not legally binding on factory owners to inform any authority in advance of closure. ‘I think the law should be amended,’ said the lawmaker.

-New Age