Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has reportedly directed the concerned authorities including her cabinet ministers to monitor the activities of non-Government organisations (NGOs) working in the readymade garment and textile sectors of the country.
Hasina’s instructions came in at an unscheduled discussion at the Cabinet Meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in capital Dhaka on Monday.
Renowned as a business-friendly Premier, Hasina reportedly also inquired about the country’s readymade garment sector’s latest situation at the onset of the weekly meeting. She also asked if any of the NGOs still influence the workforce.
State Minister for Labour Mujibul Huq Chunnu in his reply underlined that the employees of different organisations, including the readymade garment factories, have their own trade unions, many of which are patronised by the NGOs.
Chunnu further pointed out that there is currently no monitoring on the NGOs’ funding, and where and how they spend those funds.
“These trade unions are mostly influenced by different NGOs but we do not monitor the funding and other activities of these NGOs,” the Minister maintained.
He also informed the PM that the workers of the RMG sector are now actively participating in the trade unions and workers committees without any interference from the factory owners, due to the Government’s strong monitoring.
Consequent to the discussion, Hasina reportedly directed the authorities to strengthen monitoring the activities of the NGOs.
According to the Bangladesh NGO Affairs Bureau’s latest report, at present 2,565 NGOs operate in Bangladesh’s readymade garment sector, mostly with foreign assistance.
