BKMEA Conducted Relief Activities in the Recent Flood

     In the recent flood situation BKMEA extended their helping hands towards the flood affected people in some affected areas of Bangladesh. In that process,  a meeting was held on August 07, 2007in BKMEA Narayanganj office with the presence of all the businessmen and social organizations of the district. The BKMEA president Mr. Md. Fazlul Hoque presided over the meeting. In that meeting a monitoring cell was formed for executing the relief activities smoothly in Narayanganj and  all over the country. According to the meeting’s decision an account was opened in One Bank Ltd, Narayanganj branch for collecting the relief fund for the flood affected people. Also a committee of 11 members was formed for conducting the overall relief distribution activities. The District Commissioner of Narayanganj was selected as the convener of the committee.

     The relief activities started on August 11, 2007 from Fatullah Thana of Narayanganj. The relief team distributed rice, dal, potatoes, saline and biscuits among the flood affected people in the premise of Nabinagar primary school of Enayatnagar union

     As a part of the relief activities, on August 13, 2007, the Honorable Labor and Employment Adviser Mr. Md. Anwarul Iqbal in association with BKMEA and Narayanganj chamber, distributed food and cash money among about 400 flood affected people at the rural side of Narayanganj. At the same time, the I.G of police Mr. Noor Ahmed distributed food, pure drinking water and cash money among 1000 family at Alirtek union of Narayanganj.

The LGRD Adviser Mr. Md. Anwarul Iqbal, BKMEA President, Vice President and others
are distributing relief materials among the flood affected people in Narayangonj   

These activities continued on August 14 in Rupganj thana, August 16 at Kashipur and Boktabali union of Fatullah thana, August 17 at Enayatnagar union of Fatullah thana in Narayanganj district.

On August 20, 2007 BKMEA and Narayanganj Chamber, with the help of all businessmen and social organizations of Narayanganj, distributed  relief goods among about 1000 flood affected people at Enayatpur thana of Sirajganj district. Also 1000 flood affected people were given 500 taka each.

On August 27 of 2007, BKMEA and Bangladesh Army jointly distributed seeds of paddy, corn etc among the flood affected farmers at the police line area of Manikganj district in presence of the Army Chief General Moeen U. Ahmed. BKMEA donated 3 lakh taka for procurement of these relief materials. The Army Chief inaugurated these activities as the chief guest of the program. BKMEA president Md. Fazlul Hoque and the board of directors were also present there.

The Army Chief General Moeen U. Ahmed, BKMEA President Mr. Md. Fazlul Hoque
and other guests were predent in the seed distribution program among the flood
affected farmers in Manikganj on August 27, 2007 

BKMEA Opens Training Institute in Rangpur

General Moeen U. Ahmed, the Chief of Bangladesh Army- is seen inaugurating the BKMEA Training Institure by
cutting the ribbon on the 16th March 2008 at Begum Rokeya Smriti Kendra Pairabondh, Mithapukur Rangpur.
BKMEA President Mr. Fazlul Hoque (2nd right). M A Baset (left), and GOC of 66 Infantry Division and
Area Commander Maj. Gen. Syed Fatemi Ahmed Rumi Psc (2nd left) are seen with the Army Chief.   

Photo In support of underprivileged communities in Bangladesh, especially Monga affected people, BKMEA with its own initiatives and financial assistance established the “BKMEA Training Institute” at Begum Rokeya Smriti Kendra, Payrabond, Mithapukur, Rangpur. This initiative focuses on poverty alleviation and reduction of unemployment of the poor, vulnerable, unemployed man and women of the northern area by bringing them into the mainstream of the country’s economy as skilled labor force. Chief of Army Staff General Moeen U. Ahmed inaugurated this institute on the 16th March 2008. This initiative is a stepping stone for poverty reduction in greater Rangpur as well as the development of the knitwear sector.

After the inauguration, the Army Chief visited every section of the training institute and shared his views with trainees. During the visit, BKMEA President Mr. Fazlul Hoque, Vice President Alhaj Abdur Rashed, Director Mr. M A Baset, Alhaj M. Shamsul Haque, Mr. Masuduzzaman, Mr. Hasan Murad, Mr. Sheikh Monwar Hossain, and Mr. Abul kalam Azad gave him company. The Professor of Dhaka University & Director General of Bangla Academy Dr. Syed Anowar Hossain, Professor of Archeology of Jahangir Nagar University Dr. Syed Mohammad Kamrul Ahasan, GOC of 66 Infantry Division and Area Commander Maj. Gen. Syed Fatemi Ahmed Rumi Psc, Editor of ‘History in Pictures: Greater Rangpur and Dinajpur’ & Principle of Rangpur Cantonment College Lt. Colonel Nazrul Islam, Divisional Commissioner of Rajshahi Mr. Hafizur Rahman Bhuiyan, District Commissioners of Rangpur Division, and important local elites also attended the programme.

General Moeen is talking with a trainee while BKMEA President Mr. Fazlul Hoque
1st Vice President Al-Haj Abdur Rashed, 2nd Vice President Mr. M A Baset are also seen with him.

As the chief guest of the occasion, Gen. Moeen told that joblessness in a particular period of time in greater Rangpur creates transitory vulnerable situation each year which is renowned as Monga. Relief work is not a permanent solution of this recurring tragedy. For this, adequate employment opportunities need to be created. There is no alternate to training in ensuring the efficiency of the 30 crore workable hands of the 15 crore people of Bangladesh. Vocational training is compulsory for Monga affected people to make them self employed. He also said, this “Smrity Kandra” was established in 2001 by the Government at Pairabondh, the birth place of the pioneer of women empowerment, Begum Rokeya, but unfortunately after its inauguration, due to several reasons it was unused for long time. But after long six years BKMEA took the initiative to conduct garment related training programs through its own finance and with support from the Bangladesh army. The Army Chief heartily thanked BKMEA for establishing this training institute and hoped that; it will nourish the living standard of Rangpur, as well as to the northern areas of the country, ultimately bringing positive economic change there.

The LGRD Adviser Mr. Md. Anwarul Iqbal, BKMEA President, Vice President and others
are distributing relief materials among the flood affected people in Narayangonj  

The BKMEA President Mr. Fazlul Hoque conveyed that; this training institute will partially fill the current scarcity of skilled labor in the Knitwear Industry of the country. Primarily, this institute will train up 120 people monthly and who will afterwards be employed in BKMEA member factories. Through this, economic support can be extended to up to a minimum of six thousand people related with the workers. Among all trainees; 80% are women and it is through their employment, that their families, as well as the country, will be able to achieve an important step of advancement. BKMEA also provides accommodation facilities in the institution’s dormitory and free daily meals along with free training to these women. Male trainees also receive free training with daily travel allowances. At present, the industry seeks an additional 25% increase in the labor force and more than that in skilled labor. BKMEA is contributing significantly in reducing the scarcity of skilled labors through this training institute. Besides training on Sewing, Cutting, Sweater linking, and quality control, trainees are learning about basic labor rights, working safety and their duties & responsibilities, and healthcare. Though class eight pass and 18 years old are the minimum requirements to join in the training, already HSC even of graduate level students have been enlisted for this training. So it is expected that their contribution in this sector will improve productivity significantly and reduce skilled labor crisis.

Mr. Hoque heartily thanked Bangladesh Army for their timely action and support in establishing the training institute at Rangpur. He told that in response of Army Chief’s plea, BKMEA imports hi-tech machinery and started this training institute by only two months. Based on the report of an assessment team, BKMEA set up thirty five hundred thousand taka machinery there. He also thanked BKMEA members, 72 infantry division and Rangpur Joint Force for their support in establishing BKMEA Training Institute. He also presented a crest to the Army Chief from the part of BKMEA. In this programme, the military sponsored pioneering work “History in picture: greater Rangpur & Dinajpur” was unwrapped by the army chief.

Iftar party for BKMEA members and Discussion meeting on 29 September, 2007
at the Buriganga Hall of Narayanganj Club

Training in Dhaka: August 12-13, 2007