Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) voiced its strong protest at the propaganda by a section of international media against the Bangladesh apparel industry, the largest foreign currency earner.

Addressing a press conference in Dhaka yesterday, BGMEA President S M Fazlul Hoque urged the buyers not to leave Bangladesh after being confused by the propaganda on the issues of factory compliance and working atmosphere.

Referring to a recent report broadcast in the BBC World Service, Hoque turned down the

report saying it was not fully based on facts. Such a report is likely to impact badly the Bangladesh's apparel markets in Europe, he fears.

The report mentioned that three British companies- Tesco, Premark and Asda-- buy apparels from Bangladesh at very cheap prices and offer consumers a discount. The report also pointed fingers to the low salary and poor working conditions at the garment factories in Bangladesh.

Hoque said the report was not acceptable as it was compiled on the basis of interviews of 60 workers in only six factories out of 4,500 garment units in Bangladesh. He also protested the allegations raised in the report that the female

workers are forced to work for 80 hours a week and often become subject of sexual harassment.

The Bangladesh RMG sector follows the country's labour laws and recently a minimum wage structure has been declared for the garment workers, the chief of the apex trade body of the apparel sector said, claiming that all the factories have implemented the new wages.

Former BGMEA president Annisul Huq, directors including Salam Murshedi of the association, were present at the press conference at its head office.

Even the buying companies mentioned in the report have rejected it, the BGMEA leaders told the journalists. According to them,

the companies said they provide apparels to the poor British citizens at low prices but that does not mean that the working atmosphere in the manufacturing country is bad.

The BGMEA leaders observed that the RMG sector has been facing a stiff competition in the world market since 2004. They underscored the need for developing forward linkage as well as backward linkage industries for sustaining in the competitive markets.

The leaders, however, appreciated that part of the news where the consumers have been requested to change the habit of buying apparels at low prices. This part would help flourish the garment industry and expand its export base, said Annisul Huq.