Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said the government would make the import of fire and building safety materials duty-free for the readymade garment sector.
He made the announcement while speaking at the inaugural function of two-day International Trade Expo on Building and Fire Safety at Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka yesterday.
“I can assure you, the government will take the responsibility so that you can import duty-free equipment for fire and building safety for the RMG sector,” the minister said.
He also urged the Accord to appoint from the Bangladeshi engineers to inspect factories. “We have engineers of international class. Some of them are working in the developed countries.”
Talking about the retrofitting ad remediation of factories, Tofail Ahmed said: “It’s not a matter of today or tomorrow. It will take time.”
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, senior Partner at ELEVATE Global Ltd and chair of the Expo Organising Committee Ian Spaulding, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Atiqul Islam, executive director of Alliance M Rabin and secretary of IndustriAll Bangladesh Council Romesh Roy.
C&A Foundation in association with BGMEA, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, the Alliance and Accord for Bangladesh Workers’ Safety and International Finance Corporation is organising the event.
A total of 52 stalls will display products at the show first of its kind in the country, aimed at making RMG factory owners aware about the latest fire, building and electrical safety equipment.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam blamed the retailers for not paying more for the products, which is also “responsible for the lack of workers’ safety in the factories.”
On the fire safety, Ian Spaulding emphasised the use of quality products.
“When you install fire doors, sprinkler systems and lights, make sure that they are right products and certified.”
He said some of the factories had to re-install fire safety equipment as they were not certified.
“We want to minimise such cases. So, choose the right products,” he said urging the factory owners to join the events designed to make them aware of the fire and building safety.
M Rabin laid stress on the installation of proper fire doors instead of collapsible fire doors.
“We cannot change the mind-set of the security guards. When people in factories were dying in fire, the security guards kept the door locked, making the escape impossible.”
“I would therefore suggest proper fire doors, not the collapsible doors,” said M Rabin. He said around 74% of the country’s factories were constructed before the making of the Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC) 2006.
“The buildings lack some safety measures as there are three types of buildings – shared, converted and purpose-made.”
BGMEA president Atiqul Islam alleged that buyers were withdrawing orders from the factories operated in the shared buildings.
“Do not withdraw orders and do not make workers jobless,” he urged the buyers, seeking financial support from the global retailers for remediation of factories and removing faults found during inspection.
IndustriAll Bangladesh Council secretary Romesh Roy also called on the Accord signatories not to withdraw orders from any factory until the inspection is over.
“I will publish the names of the buyers if they continue to withdraw orders from the factories housed in shared buildings,” said Roy.
He suggested forming a RMG Foundation to compensate the Rana Plaza victims.
Romesh Roy demanded the retailers increase prices of products as the factory owners had increased wages.
Source: Dhaka Tribune