Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) leaders have urged the government to clear arrear export incentives totaling Tk 1,500 crore so that they can pay workers’ bonuses and other obligations for the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr.
According to Mohammad Hatem, executive president of the BKMEA, the request was made in a letter to the finance ministry on March 30.
According to him, an export incentive of around Tk 3,500 crore was due as of December last year, but the government only released Tk 2,800 last year.
According to Hatem, the amount has since increased to Tk 1,500 crore as of March 2023.
If the government pays the amount, exporters from all industries, including garment, will be able to pay workers’ festival bonuses and other obligations on time, he said.
Faruque Hassan, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, stated that he supports the BKMEA proposal, despite the fact that he did not submit a formal letter to the finance ministry.
