Dhaka – Bangladesh has formed a new cell to oversee its major export oriented garment industry that passed through many ups and downs coupled with deadly accidents and tragedies in the past years, officials said on Tuesday.

According to an official statement the Remediation Co-ordination Cell will start functioning in 2018 after two buyers groups – one from the Europe and the other from the US – completed their works that was began in the aftermath of the deadly Rana Plaza collapse in 2013.

The collapse of the eight-storey Rana Plaza building killed more than 1,100 people and injured many others. The Accord and Alliance began their activities to ensure factory standard and safety in the country.

Bangladesh, the second largest clothing producing country after China, came under severe criticism over factory safety after a series of accidents like fire and building collapse.

The statement issued Monday night by the government said that the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments proposed the Ministry of Labour and Employment to set up the cell so it could take the responsibilities of maintaining garment sector’s standard after Accord and Alliance ends their tasks.

Diplomats of the major RMG importing countries have also been advocating establishment of a separate cell so safety and security in the garment factories are ensured, said state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha news agency.

According to the proposal, the Ministry of Labour and Employment on Monday formed the cell with the Inspector General of the DIFE its head. The 7-member cell includes three executive engineers, one each from the Public Works Department, Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) and Chittagong Development Authority (CDA).

A director from Fire Service and Civil Defence, secretary of the Electrical Adviser and Chief Electric Inspector and deputy inspector general of DIFE are also included in the cell.

Initially, the RCC will be working on building capacity of the DIFE, reported the BSS.

It added that after taking the full responsibilities in 2018 the cell would provide all necessary support to the garment sector for maintaining standard, safety and security.

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