We always feel proud of our industry, our accomplishments and resilience, which has positioned ourselves as the second largest clothing exporting country in the world, and as a leader in sustainable manufacturing. Just before four years, when the Covid broke out in our country on 8 March 2020, the industry faced unprecedented challenges, and many feared about an irreparable damage.
The unprecedented storm of COVID-19 swept through the global economy; the fashion industry was not spared. Orders were canceled, retail sales came to zero, and uncertainty clouded the future. Since the industry serves as the backbone of our economy, the country wide lockdown to contain the virus brought an unprecedented paradox between lives and livelihoods. After almost a closure for almost 2 months, with its toll on revenue and cashflow, the industry once again showed its resilience. Factories gradually reopened, adhering to stringent safety protocols and guidelines. The protocol was complied by all the factories wholeheartedly, as a result of which the industry gradually got back to its rhythm with almost no major contamination and zero loss of lives; thanks to Almighty.
Though we were successfully able to reopen our factories, the continuation of the operations was quite uncertain since the recovery from the pandemic was faltering at global level, there were new variants of the virus causing subsequent waves of contamination. Due to the highly contagious nature of the virus, it was also costly for the factories to run at one
third capacity (to maintain social distancing).
While the pandemic’s shadows kept lingering, the approval of vaccines appeared as a glimmer of hope on the horizon. To ensure that the vulnerable population gets the vaccination on priority basis, the first tranche was made available for people above 60 years of age and the frontliners.
To safeguard our workers and to prevent further disaster on our export and economy, from BGMEA, we apprised the government for expedited vaccination of our workers. Our Honorable Prime Minister was moved by the significance of protecting both our economy, and livelihoods of the workers, and through Her visionary leadership and kind instruction the expedited vaccination for all the garment workers was administered with utmost priority and consideration. This was a groundbreaking decision. Furthermore, recognizing the logistical hurdles, the registration process of the workers for vaccination was simplified allowing them to use their factory ID cards instead of National IDs. On-site vaccination inside
factory premises was also arranged, which was an exception from the general population, to ensure maximum coverage.
The expedited vaccination facility was also extended for the foreign buyers, their representatives and family members living in Bangladesh, as they are the vital partners in our journey. We were also able to include the foreign professionals and their family members working in our textile and garment industry under this crucial step. Thanks to the government, and especially to the Honorable Prime Minister for providing vaccines to every citizen at free of cost. I would also like to thank multilateral donors and foreign government for their assistance in making the vaccines available to us.
Besides, BGMEA has donated a PCR lab to the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh (BADAS) to conduct Covid-19 tests of garment workers. We also donated medical equipment including Nigel hypo oxygen-cylinder with Cannula, oxygen concentrators, high flow nasal cannula, face masks, Antigen Test Kits and PPEs to various hospitals and organizations. BGMEA turned its hospital in Chattogram into an isolation center for treating Covid-19 patients. BGMEA also donated about BDT 100 million to the Prime Minister’s fund to help the poor affected by Covid fallout. BGMEA donated two ambulances to two different hospitals for the distressed ones and people in need.
There were critics questioning our steps and methods, but the results speak volumes. Despite the concerns and predictions, the COVID-19 cases among RMG workers remained remarkably low. More importantly, we saw no reported deaths within the industry. This statistic stands as a testament to the collective effort: the government’s decisive leadership, the dedication of our healthcare workers, and the cooperation of our workers.
Let us not forget the true heroes behind the scene – our courageous entrepreneurs, who faced unimaginable hardship, adapted and innovated, and turnaround from a near disaster. You embraced changes and solutions that prioritized worker safety at every crossroads. These proactive measures ensured the survival of our industry, safeguarding millions of jobs and livelihoods.
