TIB report aims to hurt Bangladesh’s apparel sector, says BGMEA

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has trashed the Transparency International Bangladesh’s report on corruption in the supply chain of the readymade garment industry.

The report is intended to destabilise the apparel sector, which earns the highest export revenue for Bangladesh, the association says.

“It is baseless, intentional, mischievous and far from truth. We have rejected it,” BGMEA President Siddiqur Rahman said, reacting to the TIB’s report on Friday evening.

TIB, the Bangladesh chapter of the Germany-based Transparency International, in its report on Thursday, had accused the readymade garment industry of covering up anomalies with bribe.

The civil society watchdog on corruption had identified 16 stages of corruption in the readymade garment supply chain from the issue of work order to production and supply.

“The shortfall in quality, quantity and compliance of products is covered up with bribes,” it said citing a study of its own.

According to Rahman, the TIB report was creating hurdles in efforts to develop the readymade clothing industry.

“TIB needs to improve its research mechanism. A report based on the interview of 74 people cannot do justice to an industry that involves millions of labourers, entrepreneurs and clients,” he told reporters at BGMEA’s Karwan Bazar office.

Readymade garments, he added, are exported adhering strictly to international norms.

“The report says we are bribing heavily to export substandard goods. How is this justified when we are working with Accord Alliance?”

The BGMEA boss wondered if the TIB was using foreign funds on credible research or rather on harming the readymade garment industry.

Terming the TIB report audacious, he said BGMEA was weighing the legal option. “We will take a decision after discussing the matter with all stakeholders.”

Rahman insisted that the garment industry has been trying to ensure workplace safety. A review of the steps taken is scheduled for Jan 28.

“The timing of the TIB report is thus against the interest of the country’s garment industry, as it questions the integrity of the stakeholders along with world-class third party auditors and clients,” he said.