The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) on Monday organised a special condolence meeting and doa mahfil in memory of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, seeking eternal peace for her departed soul.
The programme was held in the afternoon at the Nurul Qader Auditorium of the BGMEA Complex in Uttara, Dhaka.
Begum Khaleda Zia, the first female Prime Minister of Bangladesh, was remembered with deep respect for her contributions to democracy, the national economy and the development of the country's readymade garment (RMG) sector.
The meeting was presided over by BGMEA Acting President Selim Rahman, said a press release.
BGMEA Senior Vice-President Inamul Haq Khan, Vice-Presidents Md Rezwan Selim, Mizanur Rahman and Md Shihab Uddoja Chowdhury, Directors Shah Rayeed Chowdhury, Md Hasib Uddin, Mohammad Abdus Salam, Nafis-ud-Doula, Sumaiya Islam, Fahima Akter, Mozumder Arifur Rahman, Sheikh Hossain Mohammad Mostafiz, A B M Shamsuddin, Dr Rashid Ahmed Hossaini, Mohammad Sohel, Samiha Azim, along with general members and prominent figures from the garment sector were present, among others.
At the outset, former BGMEA President Kazi Moniruzzaman and Director Dr Rashid Ahmed Hossaini delivered brief speeches, recalling with profound respect Begum Khaleda Zia's uncompromising leadership and her role in the long struggle to establish democracy in Bangladesh.
In his emotional address, Acting President Selim Rahman said Begum Khaleda Zia was an uncompromising leader and a visionary statesperson, as well as a true friend of the garment industry.
During the early 1990s, when the RMG sector was still at a nascent stage, her government extended various facilities and cash incentives that significantly eased the industry's growth, he said, adding, "It was during her tenure that Bangladesh's garment exports crossed the one-billion-dollar milestone for the first time."
Selim Rahman further noted that during the critical period of the phase-out of the Multi-Fibre Arrangement (MFA) in 2004, Begum Khaleda Zia took timely and prudent steps by forming a National Coordination Committee, which helped the industry successfully navigate the crisis and strengthen its position in the global market.
He also mentioned that her government empowered BGMEA by granting authority to issue UD and UP certificates, accelerating business operations. "Her initiatives to promote a free-market economy, reduce the cost of doing business, simplify trade procedures and introduce stipends for female education brought about transformative changes in the country," Selim said.
The programme was conducted by BGMEA Director Dr Rashid Ahmed Hossaini.
A special video documentary highlighting Begum Khaleda Zia's life and contributions was screened at the event. It showcased her role in restoring democracy, strengthening the economy, empowering women and taking landmark initiatives for the expansion of the garment industry.
The programme concluded with a special prayer seeking eternal peace for the departed soul of Begum Khaleda Zia and welfare for the country and its people.
