Achieving national interest

Both the ruling and opposition political parties exploited the innocent and resilient people of Bangladesh to amass wealth for themselves. Instead of 22 notorious wealthy families during Pakistan period, now we have more than 200 similarly wealthy families in Bangladesh. Possibly the days are not far off when they, including us because of proximity, will have to pay the prices with tears and humiliation. Indeed, the present chaotic, lawlessness, and corrupt environment in the country indicate to that direction.

A recent news item in the media says that there have been 99 killings in the capital city of Dhaka alone over the last three months. The rate of dacoity is on increase. The series of bomb blasts, killing of honest lawyers, judges and outspoken politicians, kidnapping of businessmen, increase in vandalism, looting and arson of garment factories do not speak of a peaceful living environment in the country. The country appears to be gripped by anarchy. It gives the impression that the government does not either have the power to contain the situation or is a passive onlooker. Since political leaders are also involved in corruption they apparently lost moral strength to resist it, to say the least. Since 2001 Bangladesh has been placed as number one among the corrupt countries by Transparency International. As a result, Bangladesh has been deprived of the benefit from US' Millennium Challenge fund.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

Although many commentators have complained of total failure of the government to protect the garment factories, but crux of the problem perhaps lies also somewhere else. Another group of commentators are of the opinion that it could not be ruled out that there is a foreign hand to sabotage or cripple the growing industry which brings foreign currency to Bangladesh.

If we look at the benefits that have been accrued by the owners of garment industries in Bangladesh since mid 1980's when this industry started to show its strengths, they did not pay any attention to the work force in terms of financial, health or any other fringe benefit. Worker is the backbone of any industry, whether it is big or small, it makes no difference. Workers in Bangladesh need two meals a day, a set of clothes to wear and a roof to sleep under. This is a bare minimum necessity. In most garment factories there is no provision for extra pay for extra hour beyond 8 hours a day. There is no provision for lunch break either.

European Union and the US had objected to the employment of child labour in garment industry. This resulted in the conclusion of tripartite agreement between government, BGMEA (Bangladesh Garment Manufacturing and Exporters Association) and ILO (International Labor Organisation).Under this agreement, owners of garment factories are obliged to pay for the education of the child of the garment workers instead of employing them in the factories. Here, as a signatory to the tripartite agreement the government has the inherent responsibility to ensure such arrangement through monitoring in each and every factory. BGMEA also ignored this vital aspect of the agreement.

Lack of knowledge of manufacturers and exporters and change of design every year have caused hindrance in the way of expansion of this industry and further penetration into the markets in the United States and Europe. As a matter of fact, European Union had offered ten years moratorium to develop linkage industries and build up adequate infrastructures and support services. But owners did not pay any attention to these vital aspects of the industry. On the other hand, the possibility of passing a bill to allow quota free entry into the market of US is bleak for the present because of ensuing mid-term elections in November this year. Another equally ominous sign is the placing of a bill in the Senate last month by Byron Dorgan, Democratic Senator from North Dakota, to prohibit buying garments from such countries where minimum wages are not paid to workers; use of any forced or compulsory labour exists; employment of child labour is in practice and occupational safety and healthcare are not provided. More or less all these elements are in place in garment industries in Bangladesh, although this bill is intended to block buying from Jordan. According to the Senator, Jordan has been hiring cheap child labour from Bangladesh and they are being treated shabbily.

Working relations between management of garment factories and workers are not healthy either. Decade long grievances and exploitation by owners reflect in the present unrest in the factories. Political leaders are no exception either. They did not serve the interest of the people and the country as well. Had there been proper utilisation of trillion dollars of foreign aid since the independence of the country, the fate of the people must have changed for much better by now.

The alarming situation in garment factories could have been avoided had the owners of garment factories accepted the legitimate demands of the workers. Their demands were not that high which could be met. It is true that without the factory workers could not have earned livelihood. It is equally true that without the workers owners of garment factories could not have earned their billions. Last year readymade garments earned more that two billion dollars from America alone. Workers have the inherent right to demand minimum salary of Tk. 3000, which means $ 45 dollars a month. Against the backdrop of rising prices of essential commodities this amount of money hardly meets bare minimum necessity.

After 35 years of independence we must seek advancement not statement under any circumstance, not only in garments, but all other sectors. We must overcome problems of our own making by our own efforts in our own interest. No self-seeking group or individual interest should create hindrance in achieving overall national interest

Mohammad Amjad Hossain, a former Bangladesh diplomat resides in Virginia.