BGMEA protests ‘derogatory remark’ on Bangladesh’s RMG sector in Netflix movie

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Faruque Hassan has written to US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl R Miller, drawing attention to a movie recently released on Netflix that contains "derogatory comments" about "Made in Bangladesh".

"We request your steps to stop streaming the movie 'Last Mercenary' on Netflix until the dialogue or the scene is removed from the movie," mentioned Hassan in his letter.

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The comments in the movie said, "Yes, Bulletproof Tuxedo, Made in France. I'd be dead if it were Bangladesh."

Hassan said the remarks have been also irrelevantly and irrationally juxtaposed in the movie, as Bangladesh does not produce any "bullet-proof apparel".

"So, since its release on Netflix on July 30, 2021, the movie 'Last Mercenary' has been hurting every lover and maker of 'Made in Bangladesh'," said the BGMEA chief.

As Netflix is a US-based company; BGMEA, on behalf of all apparel manufacturers and workers of Bangladesh, requested the US ambassador to convey their vehement protest to Netflix for releasing the movie without censoring the derogatory remarks about "Made in Bangladesh".

"The significant progress Bangladesh RMG industry made over last few years in the areas of workplace safety, improved workers' health, sustainable manufacturing and green revolution also largely owes to the support of the US Embassy in Dhaka," he mentioned.

"At a moment when Bangladesh's RMG industry after addressing the safety concerns is leading green garment manufacturing in the world by examples, derogatory comments about 'Made in Bangladesh' in a newly released French movie 'Last Mercenary' directed by David Charon has appalled us and shocked us all by surprise," he said.

"These comments are tantamount to belittling the hard work, dedication, quality and on-time manufacturing commitment of the 4 million garment workers of Bangladesh who are delivering 'Made in Bangladesh' apparel to about 160 countries of the world, including the US," the BGMEA president also said.

The apparel manufacturers and workers of Bangladesh put all their dedications and commitments to supply apparel for the top global as well as US brands, and they take a lot of pride in what they make, Hassan said.

"This hard work and pride should be respected by all," said the BGMEA chief.