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Owners demand reopening of factories

BGBA urges PMO for health safety plan


Published : 22 Apr 2020 09:34 PM | Updated : 04 Sep 2020 07:39 AM

In the face of coronavirus lockdown, owners are preparing to restart their factories maintaining the physical distance and hygiene rules. Such initiatives are being taken to curb unemployment, create work opportunities for the poor and reduce the damage to the economy.
In this situation, a section of the garment association is demanding to reopen factories. 

As per their statement, it was learned that neighboring countries are gradually reopening their respective factories, at the same time, some garment demand has gone up. If factories remain closed, these orders will go to countries of our competitors. Bangladesh Garment Buying House Association (BGBA) president Kazi Iftekhar Hossain, in a written statement to Prime Minister Office, has urged for a plan measuring health safety and other precautions to reopen factories and transports on a limited scale to stay competitive in the global market.

The association informed that competitor countries are reopening factories. At present, Bangladesh has a well-established supply chain with South American and European countries. If the country cannot maintain the uninterrupted supply chain with these countries, there is a threat that neighboring competitors would take these export orders.

Once the supply chain breaks it would be very challenging for the country to re-establish the connection. While the country is in the grip of a protracted slowdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BKMEA) have taken initiatives to reopen factories. As per the garment apex body information, it was learned that from April 26 factories will start to open step by step. From May 2, all factories will be opened. The government will provide assistance to the garment owners in this regard.

BGMEA senior vice president Faisal Samad told journalists, “At present, we are fixing the factories protocol, later we will fix export protocol too. Buyers are asking to ship their orders. There is no hurry, we are conducting a survey of factories, ensuring each individual's safety we will open factories”.

Sheikh Fazle Fahim, president of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) told journalists, “We have been discussing the current situation for the last 7 days with the Ministry of Health and those working in the international arena, especially with the World Health Organization.

“We are discussing, how we can start maintaining hygiene without getting infected. Discussions are underway at national and international levels to implement the preparations”, he added. According to BKMEA information, a final decision will be taken by the government within this week.

Meanwhile, on last Monday, while having a video conference with eight divisions of Dhaka and Mymonsigh, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also talked on such issues. About reopening factories at Gazipur, she said, “Gazipur is our industrial belt; we have the plan to reopen some factories, especially those which are export-based”.

The premier also emphasized ensuring lockdown to restart production at least on a limited scale. In this regard giving the highest priority of the World Health Organisation’s conditions, she said, “We have Ramadan ahead, few factories have to be productive, ensuring safety we will bring them to a limited scale”.

It is to be noted, since the government has extended general holiday to prevent the spread of coronavirus, BGMEA and BKMEA have decided to keep factories shut till April 25.