The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association would jointly establish a temporary warehouse at the cargo village of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to ensure uninterrupted export activities following a devastating fire that disrupted import operations.
According to a BGMEA statement issued on Monday, the decision was made at a meeting held on October 20 between leaders of the two trade bodies and Advisor to the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Sheikh Bashiruddin.
The move aims to mitigate the losses caused by the fire and protect imported goods vital to the country鈥檚 apparel industry.
Import and export activities for the garment sector have been severely hampered after a fire broke out at the airport鈥檚 cargo village on October 18, rendering the import shed unusable.
The BGMEA said that swift action was essential to maintain the flow of export operations and minimise disruptions to production.
As part of the emergency measures, a temporary 鈥楻ubb Hall鈥� warehouse will be set up near the newly constructed Terminal 3, which is not yet operational for storage.
The facility will temporarily house valuable imported raw materials and other goods required for garment production.
Rubb Hall is a large, relocatable tent-like structure commonly used for temporary or emergency purposes. It serves as a versatile facility, often functioning as a warehouse, aircraft hangar, workshop, transit camp, or sports hall.
The BGMEA has already awarded a work order to a supplier for the rapid installation of the Rubb Hall, with completion expected in the shortest possible time.
鈥楾his joint initiative will play an effective role in protecting imported products and provide vital support to sustain the country鈥檚 overall export trade,鈥� the BGMEA statement said.
The export-oriented garment industry, which contributes over 80 per cent of Bangladesh鈥檚 export earnings, relies heavily on the timely import of raw materials.