Apparel sector wants access to stimulus package
Staff Correspondent

In a desperate bid to access the government’s stimulus package, the apparel sector leaders on Tuesday reiterated a 16-point demand for helping the major export-earning industry to survive the fallouts of the current global recession.
As part of their lobbying for fiscal and financial supports, they met the commerce minister, Faruk Khan, at his ministry and sought his help to ensure various supports, which they considered, are required to overcome the ongoing crisis.
‘I know all the demands raised by you are justified and reflections of these will be there when the proposed budget will be passed. The matter will be dealt with by the prime minister and the finance minister after the budget,’ Faruk told the business leaders.
A delegation of Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association, led by its president Salam Murshidi, at a meeting with the commerce minister raised demands such as five per cent subsidy on interest payment, subsidy for diesel at Tk 10 per litre, withdrawal of all value added tax and duties on capital machinery, withdrawal of deduction of tax at source and rescheduling of loans without down payment.
Another delegation of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, led by its president AKM Fazlul Hoque, wanted to know from the commerce minister whether the association members had any share in the Tk 5,000-crore stimulus package announced by the government.
‘We just want to know if we have anything in the package because we have to take mental preparations. We also request
the government to allow us to remain present during the consultation process for formulating required policies,’ said Fazlul Hoque.
Both the associations are expected to meet the finance minister, Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, on next Saturday to explain their demands so that some of them could be accommodated into the 2009-2010 budget, the leaders said.
The BGMEA sought the commerce minister’s intervention into an issue of allotment of a piece of 16 bighas land for setting up a training centre in Manikganj. Faruk Khan assured them he would look into matter.