BGMEA protests ‘misleading remarks’ by CA’s aides on its president’s request for meeting

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has protested what it termed "misleading" statements made by the chief adviser's special assistant and deputy press secretary, saying their remarks have indirectly undermined the country's largest export-earning sector.

Yesterday (29 October), the BGMEA released a clarification regarding certain statements published in the media, stating, "Some remarks made by Chief Adviser's Special Assistant Foyez Taiyeb Ahmed, and Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, concerning the meeting between the chief adviser and the BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan, have been published in various media and on social media. These remarks have drawn the attention of BGMEA."

It added that the BGMEA believes that both the special assistant and the deputy press secretary have presented the matter in a misleading way, "which is unfortunate and regrettable". 

"Their statements have indirectly undermined the country's main export-oriented sector, the garment industry."

The BGMEA strongly protests such remarks, the statement said, signed by Acting Secretary Major (retd) Md Saiful Islam.

To clarify the matter, BGMEA provided an explanation that first, in response to a question from journalists at BGMEA's press conference held on 28 October, its president stated that for the past four months, BGMEA has been seeking a one-on-one meeting with the chief adviser to discuss issues such as policy formulation for the garment sector, maintaining competitiveness, and addressing ongoing challenges. 
"However, that meeting has not yet taken place."

Secondly, the statement said, the meeting referred to by the CA's aides was "actually a general review session on LDC graduation, attended by representatives from various ministries, agencies, and stakeholders

"It was not an official bilateral meeting specifically arranged for BGMEA or the garment industry. Simply being present in a general meeting and having an exclusive meeting with the chief adviser are two entirely different matters."

Third, the statement reads, out of deep concern and frustration, the BGMEA president said at the press conference, "We have been seeking an appointment with the chief adviser for four months but haven't been able to meet him. Yet when the vice president of SpaceX, Starlink's parent company, arrives, he is granted a meeting. That company plans to invest $100 million, while our apparel sector represents $40 billion, but we still can't get an appointment."

The BGMEA president expressed this concern solely in the interest of the nation's largest export sector and industry, the statement said. 

"However, the special assistant and deputy press secretary have presented his remarks out of context, which is misleading and harmful to the reputation of the industry."

The BGMEA said it hopes that in the future, the chief adviser's special assistant and deputy press secretary will maintain professionalism and responsibility when making statements regarding the country's largest export-oriented sector.

The BGMEA once again expressed its hope that an official meeting will soon be arranged with the chief adviser to discuss the current challenges, prospects, and policy issues concerning the national export sector.