Bangladesh has held its first ever compliance convention for the readymade garment factories in the country with an aim to create a common platform for setting compliance standards.
The daylong ‘National Compliance Carnival 2018’, organised by Institute of Compliance Professionals, was held at International Convention Centre, Bashundhara (ICCB), Dhaka, on April 20, 2018, with a target to bring policymakers, business entities and compliance professionals to exchange experience.
“Bangladesh has been following the compliance standards of retailers and brands since some major industrial disasters. But until now, there is no common platform for compliance. We aim to do just that,” said Shaila Ashraf, President of Institute of Compliance Professional, at the programme.
At the event, Michael Schultheiss, Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Economics Section at German Embassy in Dhaka stated that there has been a remarkable progress in the compliance issue at the garments units. But, there is still room for improvement. Business ethics and compliance are key factors if Bangladesh wants to have a sustainable business chain in the European Union.
Among others who spoke in the programme were Annie Vestjens, First Secretary SRHR and Gender, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Md Hatem, First Vice President for Exporters Association of Bangladesh (EAB).
Bangladesh’s apparel manufacturers are highly committed towards the compliance issue. The industry has come a long way since Rana Plaza disaster.
Markedly, Atiqul Islam, former President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), appealed: “Labour leaders to stay away from propaganda and catering false information to the outside world.”
Furthermore, three keynote speeches were placed at the programme: ‘Transformation of garments industry towards the target of US $ 50 billion by 2021 and role of compliance’, ‘Shifting compliance into responsible business practices – A new business model for sustainability and women empowerment’, and ‘Environmental compliance – Expectation and reality, in terms of sustainability’.
The programme was attended by about 1,500 delegates from various readymade garment units from all over Bangladesh, distinguished guests and stakeholders.