Apparel exporters have requested the interim government to provide Tk 3,000 crore in soft loans to offset financial losses caused by the recent student-led mass uprising and severe flooding, which disrupted road communications. During meetings with Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed and Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur on 28th August, exporters emphasized the need for the loan to cover workers’ August wages, proposing to repay it in six installments. They also called for a temporary suspension of utility disconnections for up to three months in case of delayed bill payments.
Additionally, RMG exporters urged the government to leverage Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus’ connections to secure Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) benefits in the US market. BKMEA Executive President Fazlee Shamim Ehsan noted that similar funding was received during the pandemic and successfully repaid. He also requested that the central bank refrain from freezing business accounts, as such actions could affect interconnected enterprises.
BGMEA President Khandoker Rafiqul Islam highlighted that RMG exporters have been unable to operate at full capacity for the past month and a half due to the mass uprising and floods. He requested the reinstatement of a six-installment loan repayment structure and a three-month suspension of utility disconnections to protect factory operations during bank reforms.
BGMEA also called for forming a task force to implement necessary policy changes within the NBR and Bangladesh Bank to create a more business-friendly environment. The exporters sought assurances from the interim government regarding power security, pricing, and measures to address external influences on waste fabric disposal.
During a separate meeting, Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed urged business leaders to conduct their operations transparently and honestly, emphasizing that demands made by the business community are not substantial and that efforts will be made to address them.
Bangladeshi apparel exporters are particularly interested in regaining GSP benefits in the US, which were suspended after the 2013 Rana Plaza collapse. With Muhammad Yunus now serving as chief adviser, business leaders see an opportunity to restore this facility, leveraging his international reputation.
In another meeting with the Bangladesh Bank governor, the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) expressed support for Bangladesh Bank’s actions against bank looters and money launderers. DCCI President Ashraf Ahmed pointed out that dishonest traders have increased the cost of funds and interest rates, leading to a banking system failure.
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