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Bangladesh high court bans Nirapon for 6 months

30
Oct '19

Pic: Nirapon

The Bangladesh high court recently imposed a six-month ban on Nirapon, a local entity formed with the backing of 23 North American apparel brands and retailers to replace the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety. Nirapon has been overseeing building safety, inspection and remediation of garment units after the Alliance left in December last year.

Most Nirapon members were signatories to the Alliance. The order banning Nirapon followed a writ petition filed by Dragon Sweater and Spinning Limited.

The court also asked Nirapon to explain within two weeks why it should not be ordered to join the RMG Sustainability Council, according to Imtiaz Moinul Islam, who represented Dragon Sweater and Spinning Limited.

European retailers’ group Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, the Alliance, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, brands, buyers and trade unions on September 3 agreed to form the RSC by November 15 to ensure safety in Bangladesh garment factories.

Earlier, at a views exchange meeting of BGMEA on September 29, apparel markers raised concern over the activities of Nirapon alleging that it had been creating confusion over safety standards and adding new cost burden in the name of monitoring and training, according to Bangla media reports.

They also alleged that Nirapon was creating market for service providers, especially for local training providers and qualified assessment firms, which the manufacturers could not afford after investing huge amounts in the industry to ensure workplace safety in last five years.

Almost all participants in the meeting expressed concern over the high cost they would have to bear to maintain Nirapon’s prescriptions.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)

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