Garment factories will remain open during strict lockdown

The government has ensured that the textile and garment factories will be exempt from the seven-day strict lockdown starting from Monday to restrain the COVID-19 spread.

Garment owners’ associations leaders have said that the RMG factories will remain open under special measures even if a strict lockdown is enforced.

Several RMG leaders quoting Cabinet Secretary Khondokar Anwarul Islam affirmed the matter.

Mohammad Hatem, First Vice-President, BKMEA quoting Cabinet Secretary Khondokar Anwarul Islam said, “Factories will be kept operational in compliance with the hygiene rules.”

Mohammad Hatem added that the Cabinet Secretary requested to keep the people’s movement limited.

BGMEA Vice President Md Shahidullah Azim said to a local media that the apparel leaders stressed to the Cabinet Secretary that anarchy could arise if the factories were closed at the moment. We requested the cabinet secretary to permit the movement of cargo vans as well as the operation of factories to keep the economy afloat.

Azim stressed that 90% of the RMG workers live within the vicinity of their factories.

“He has guaranteed us. However, we are waiting for the official instruction from the government.”

Earlier State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain recently said, “Police and the Border Guard of Bangladesh (BGB) will ensure strict enforcement of the lockdown and the army may also be deployed.”

Banks and other financial institutions will operate on a limited scale, he added.

All kinds of government and non-government offices will remain closed during this period.