Although notable progress has been achieved, however, various deficits still exist indicating that a lot needs to be done to consolidate reforms gains in establishing good governance in the country’s Ready-made Garment Sector (RMG) sector, a TIB study revealed. The study Good Governance in the Ready Made Garment Sector: Review of Progress during Last One Year, released on 21 April 2015, assessed progress and implementation status of different initiatives and efforts undertaken to ensure good governance in RMG Sector in the last one year (April 2014 to March2014). It may be mentioned here that the nine-storey Rana Plaza that housed some readymade garment factories had collapsed on April 24, 2013, killing 1,138 people and injuring over 2,500, mostly garment workers. The Rana Plaza accident is now regarded as a stark example of lack of good governance and corruption in the RMG sector in Bangladesh.
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Major initiatives taken by other stakeholders included providing salaries as per wage board in 95% factories, issuance of identity cards by compliant factories, and BGMEA’s “Center of Excellence” initiative with the help of Swedish brand H&M to enhance workers’ awareness on fire safety. European buyers’ forum ‘Accord on Fire Safety (Accord)’ and American buyers’ forum ‘Alliance for Bangladesh Workers Safety (Alliance)’ completed surveys on around 67% factories to ensure fire, electrical and structural safeties.According to the study findings some 85% of the financial assistance deposited into the Prime Minister's Relief and Welfare Fund for the victims of the Rana Plaza is yet to be disbursed two years after the world's worst workplace disaster. The Fund received about $16 million or Tk 127 crore from local sources, mainly commercial banks, for the victims and their families since April 24, 2013. But about Tk 108 crore of the Fund remained unused, the study said. The report also questioned the transparency in disbursement of the fund.
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