On Sunday, 84% of the country’s textile and readymade garment (RMG) factories under the purview of the Industrial Police began work as the government authorised all export-oriented businesses to begin production despite the’strict lockdown.’
According to industry sources, at least 80% of garment employees returned to work that day.
A total of 2,725 textile and RMG factories registered with Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) are located in six industrial zones of Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Chattogram, Mymensingh and Khulna under IP. Of them, some 2,312 units opened on Sunday while a total of 463 remained closed, according to the IP data.
Bangladesh’s decision to resume production of export-oriented industries has overshadowed the objective of lockdown as it allowed people to move freely on roads, railways and rivers. 340 factories under Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) remained open on Sunday while nine remained closed. Healthcare experts said the decision came at a time when the country has been witnessing an alarming surge of coronavirus across the country.
