Staff Reporter :
In a recent turn of events, the younger generation of the Ready-Made Garment (RMG) industry has diverged from the traditional stance of their predecessors regarding the ongoing quota reform protests.
Unlike the older veterans of the industry, who demonstrated their support for the government during a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on 22nd July, the new wave of business leaders has chosen to stand in solidarity with the student protesters.
47 apparel businesses, representing the group ‘The Next Generation Apparel Business Community of Bangladesh,’ issued a statement expressing their support for the ongoing student protests and the nine-point demands put forth by the demonstrators on Saturday.
They also called for justice regarding the loss of lives that occurred during the nationwide movement.
In their statement, the business leaders affirmed, “We, as members of the next generation apparel business community of Bangladesh, issue a statement expressing solidarity with the ongoing nine-point demands made by the people of Bangladesh.”
Shams Mahmud, one of the signatories to the statement and managing director of Sasha Denims Ltd, told media that the second generation businesses in the apparel sector had reached a consensus over expressing solidarity with the ongoing protests of students and the people of the country.
“We have issued the statement expressing solidarity with 9-point demands of the country’s people, and if the movement becomes a movement for one-point demand, we will continue our support,” he said.
Shams Mahmud is also the former president of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
‘As members of the business community, we cannot stand silent and watch the sad loss of innocent lives and people’s demand unheard,’ the statement read.
The businesses expressed their concerns for all citizens of the country and affirmed that, as proud members of an independent nation, everyone should be able to exercise their rights peacefully.
They also extended their deepest sympathy and condolence to the families of the deceased ones. ‘All lives matter,’ they said.
“We extend our deepest sympathies to those affected by the recent events and want to see the perpetrators brought to justice through fair investigation,” the statement said.
The businesses called for justice for victim families and immediate economic restoration for the interest of this nation and its citizens.
Other signatories in the statement include Fazlee Shamim Ehsan, managing director of Eraf Composite Ltd, Abrar Hossain Sayem, director of Sayem Fashions Ltd, Al Shahriar Ahmed, managing director of Adzi Trims Ltd; Hasin Ahmed, director of MB Knit, Rafee Mahmood, director of Mahmood Denims, Sakib Ahmed, managing director of Broadway Incorporation, Abrar Alam Khan, director of Astrotex Group, M Ehsanul Huq, director of Knittex Industries Ltd, Jasim Uddin, managing director of Anam Garments Ltd, Lithe Moontaha Mohiuddin, director of Lithe Group, Zarin Rashid, director of TRZ Ind. Ltd, Kazi Fahad, managing director of Kazi Accessories, Aqib Jafri Sharif, director of Northern Tosrifa Group, Ramize Khalid Islam, director of Renai Group, Azfar Ankon Hassan, director of Giant Group, Sifat Ishty, managing director of Textila Ltd., Remonul Alam Sadi, ,irector of Old Town Fashions Ltd, Farzad Islam Antor, managing director of Platinum Sourcing and Services Ltd, Avee Barua Chowdhury, executive director of Jams Design Ltd, MD Jewel Rana, managing director of Matrix Apparel, Neaz Rahman Shaqib, director of Simtex Industries Ltd, Ahmed Nabid Imtiaz, director of Andalib Textile Mills Ltd, Labibur Rahman Malek, director of Modern, Naimul Hassan Naim, director of Abloom Design Ltd, Rajesh Saha, director of Rose Sweaters Ltd, Anika Bushra Rafa, director of AKH Group, Fazlay Hossain Alif of Lam Mim Apparels Ltd, Zahir Ahmed Shah of Ahmed Spinning Ltd, Ashikul Hoque of Ashiqul Textile Ltd, Omar Chowdhury of Banga Garments, Irfanul Hoque, director of Fatullah Fabrics, Tanzila Karim, director of Odell Group, Tasnim Sadek, director of Roshawa Spinning, Jubaer Hossain Asif, director of Rose Garden Apparel, Mohammad Iqbal Hasan, director of Fair Apparels Ltd, Tanvir Kashem, director of AKH Group, Waeza Masnoon, director of Clifton Group, Abrar Rashid of Sattar Textile Ltd, Sharif Mohammad Abdullah of Rehash Accessories & Sourcing Ltd, Arshad Rahman, director of Farrell Fashions Ltd, Subael Sarwar, director of Beautiful Jackets Ltd, Ratul Das, director of Paramount Group, Apurba Saha, director of PN Composite Ltd, Farhan Ahmed, director of Packman Bangladesh Ltd, Ayesha Shefa, director of Simco Spinning Ltd, and Jobayer Tansim Ahmed, director of Shah Fatehullah Textile Mills Ltd.