Bangladesh Garments Manufactures and Exporters Association (BGMEA) handed over cheques of group insurance to families of dead garment workers and employees on Sunday.

Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) Commissioner Md Iqbal Bahar was the chief guest at the programme with BGMEA First Vice-President Moinuddin Ahmed Mintu in the chair.

BGMEA Vice-President Mohammad Ferdous, Director and Group Insurance Affairs In-charge Kazi Mahbub Uddin Jewel, Directors Syed Mohammad Tanvir, Amzad Hossain Chowdhury, former Directors Helal Uddin Chowdhury and Emdadul Hoque Chowdhury were present at the programme among others.

He said due to strong unity between the both groups, it has been made possible to earn $28,000 billion starting from $12,000 billion through export from the sector.

Lauding worker welfare activities of BGMEA, the CMP commissioner said economy of the country is closely connected to the industry and he assured all out support from his side for ensuring security in this sector.

Moinuddin Ahmed said law enforcement agencies have been playing relentless role in maintaining law and order in apparel sector in the port city.  

Terming workers as driving force of the apparel industry, he said ups and down of the industry is connected to the good and bad situations of the workers.

He said BGMEA has been implementing all kinds of welfare initiatives for the workers.

The first vice-president informed that hospitals and dormitories were constructed for ensuring treatment and safe housing for workers specially women ones of the sector.

He informed that the amount of insurance claim was increased to Tk 5 lakh from Tk 2 lakh, which will be effective from July this year. The government is also forming a workers’ welfare fund by charging 0.03 percent against each export price.  

BGMEA distributed cheque of Tk 2 lakh to each of the victims’ families.