The report published in the British newspaper Guardian about women workers in Bangladesh garment sector, tried to smear the honor of millions of women workers. Exporters’ body BGMEA has termed the report as false and distorted. The Guardian has published such sensational reports without evidence several times before.
BGMEA President Faruque Hassan said these things in a letter sent to British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke appointed in Dhaka on December 3. Referring to the negative impact of the Guardian‘s report, he requested the High Commissioner to raise the matter with the editor of the newspaper.
BGMEA’s letter also said that the report tried to portray Bangladesh’s garment sector as a sector of oppression. The real truth is not revealed. The real truth is that the garment industry is playing an important role as a platform for the empowerment of millions of women in Bangladesh and their economic independence. Through this, these women are supporting their families and educating their children.
A copy of the letter has been sent to the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Labor, High Commission of Bangladesh in the UK and other related departments.
Recently a report was published in the Guardian quoting a Bangladeshi female garment worker. It is said that women garment workers are forced to work as sex workers at night due to rising cost of living due to inflation. When the report came to notice, BGMEA protested immediately. The organization termed the news as fake and deliberate. On 02 January, a protest rally was organized by seven federations of garment sector workers unions.