RMG sector crucial meeting Saturday

In the wake of the ongoing workers’ protests triggered by the death of over 290 of their fellow workers in a Savar building collapse, the apparel exporters’ association BGMEA has announced a daylong closure for all the factories on Saturday.

“The BGMEA will hold an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on Saturday at its headquarters to decide the future course of action,” Vice President SM Mannan Kochi said.

He said the meeting would discuss whether all the factories should be closed for an indefinite period, if need be.

Kochi said all senior leaders of the BGMEA, BKMEA and the BTMA were expected to meet to discuss the overall condition.

On Wednesday morning, the nine-storied Rana Plaza, located near the Savar Bus Stand, caved in. The official death toll was 292 until 2pm Friday. Around 2,000 people were reportedly injured and many more missing. More than 3,000 workers were working in the five garment units located in the building when it collapsed.

Allegations were also raised about workers being forced to work in the factories located the ill-fated building despite cracks being noticed there on Tuesday.

Angry readymade garment workers also took to streets in the capital on Friday protesting against the Savar tragedy demanding arrest of the owners of Rana Plaza and the five garment units.

Similar protests are going on in Savar, Gazipur and Ashulia areas. Most factories in those areas have been shut down for the day.

Of the five factories in the collapsed Rana Plaza, Mahbubur Rahman Tapas and Bazlus Samad Adnan are the owners of New Wave Bottoms and New Wave Styles, respectively.

Mohammad Aminul Islam owned two factories - Phantom Apparels and Track, while EtherTex is owned by Mohammad Anisur Rahman.

On Thursday, RMG workers had laid siege to the BGMEA building before being moved away by police