Are vested quarters trying to destabilise the apparel industry?
As Bangladesh embarks on a new chapter in its development, it is crucial that the government ensures the protection of all stakeholders in the industry. The future of the country will become uncertain if the protection of its apparel industry is not ensured
The recent brutal attack on the deputy managing director of Mahmud Group, Rafee Mahmud, has left apparel entrepreneurs rattled. Rafee, who is also the vice-president of Bangladesh Apparel Youth Leaders Association (Bayla), narrowly escaped death during the attack.
On that fateful day, Rafee went to appease the workers of Mahmud Jeans Limited — one of the four apparel concerns of Mahmud Group — who were blocking streets, demanding the payment of their arrears. He could have ignored the agitation and sat idle in a safe place. But the young entrepreneur, of his own accord, went to talk with his workers to resolve the situation.
We saw in several video clips, which later went viral on social media, that he had been explaining to the workers that due to unavailability of gas supply to all the four units of Mahmud Group, the situation had worsened. Rafee said he had been trying his best to sell their house to pay the arrears.
In the middle of his conversation, some miscreants started mercilessly attacking him with rocks, metal rods, and sticks. An unconscious Rafee was also dragged to the factory and kept locked in there for about eight hours without any treatment.
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The pertinent questions are: Could the workers, who had been depending on the factory for their lives and livelihoods for many years, commit such atrocities against its owner? Was not the attack premeditated, where we saw the goons orchestrate it with rods and sticks that were already in their hands?
Actually, this attack is a chilling reflection of the escalating crisis that has hit the country's apparel industry hard for the last four months. In these four months, we have seen many factories, which had no arrears and many widely reputed in the industry for their CSR activities towards workers, coming under attack from outsiders.
Law enforcement agencies, still struggling to re-establish authority, have failed to maintain order in the industry in these long four months. Vandalism, road blockades and assaults have become disturbingly routine, endangering not only the apparel industry but the economy as a whole. How much longer must the businesses wait for safety and stability?
This heinous act is not only a gross violation of human rights but also endangers the fabric of trust essential for our industry. These acts of violence harm the reputation of an industry that exports apparel to over 160 countries of the world.
These kinds of atrocities should be internationally condemned by global unions, NGOs and all organisations advocating for sustainability in the fashion industry.
The perpetrators must be identified and brought to justice through proper application of the law. Exemplary punishment should be meted out to deter such actions.
The success of Bangladesh's garment industry is the result of years of tireless dedication and hard work from both workers and entrepreneurs. As Bangladesh embarks on a new chapter in its development, it is crucial that the government ensures the protection of all stakeholders in the industry. This will safeguard the continued progress of the economy. The future of this country will become uncertain if the protection of its apparel industry is not ensured.
Ashikur Rahman Tuhin is the Managing Director of TAD Group and a former Director of the Bangladesh's Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).
