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Nearly Tk 10 billion of the Labour Welfare Fund (LWF) remained stuck in the banks facing liquidity shortage, making it difficult for the authorities concerned to spend on labour and tame unrest.
The funds deposited with the banks could not be withdrawn and provided to the labourers facing financial challenges to give them some relief. The LWF has not been operated as per the rules in the last 15 years.
Labour Secretary AHM Shafiquzzman said this while speaking as chief guest at a mock parliament debate competition, organised by Debate for Democracy (DfD) at FDC premises in the city on Saturday.
DfD Chairman Hassan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron presided over the competition between Tejgoan College and Prime University.
Mr Shafiquzzaman also pledged to end disparities between existing laws for the factories inside and outside the Export Processing Zones (EPZs) and introduce trade unions in the EPZs.
On the persisting unrest in the apparel sector, he pointed fingers at competitor countries that are trying to grab Bangladesh's market.
DfD Chairman Kiron said the labourers have raised their legitimate demands for wages and other benefits, but their agitation and vandalism cannot be supported.
Outsiders have joined the labourers to create an anarchy, which might have been instigated by a neighbouring country to drive away Bangladesh's export orders, he added.
Tejgoan College won the competition on "Political interest is responsible for instability in apparel export."