They voiced their demand when they met Commerce Minister Hafizuddin Ahmed at his office at the Secretariat yesterday.

The country's garment factory owners received a total of 80 percent export orders through buying houses, they said, lamenting that their contribution is yet to be appreciated by the government.

"Undoubtedly, we contribute a lot to export orders from the buyers. But nobody recognizes our contribution, which is very unfortunate," said Qayum Reza Chowdhury, president of the proposed Bangladesh Garment Buying House Association (BGBA), while talking to journalists after the meeting with the minister.

The BGBA president said the country's maximum buying houses are equipped with the manpower who are experienced and skilled, and international standard infrastructure, which help in getting huge export orders for the garment sector.

He said, "Garment sector has no adequate infrastructure to get export order from the buyers. So our contribution should be recognised".

Dwelling on the recent unrest in the garment sector, BGBA leaders demanded punishment of the real culprits who instigated the incident.

The commerce minister is learnt to have assured them of giving a directive to the concerned body regarding recognition to the BGBA.

M Jakir Hossain, first vice-president, S Alam, second vice-president, K I Hossain, third vice-president, Basedur Rahman Chowdhury, secretary general of the proposed BGBA were present during the meeting with the minister.