Intelligence and regulatory bodies fear a possible labour unrest ahead of Eid caused by the uncertainty over payment of salaries and festival bonuses of workers of some factories affected by the pandemic.
In this situation, the Police Headquarters (PHQ) has instructed the Industrial Police unit to make a list of factories which are not capable of paying workers salaries and bonuses so that steps can be taken to avoid unrest.
Garment factories are among the vulnerable ones.
In Chattogram, two government regulatory bodies have apprehended that 67 garment factories may face labour unrest over payment of salaries and festival bonuses ahead of Eid.
Ctg port deliveries slow amid lockdown
Port officials and users apprehend a possible container congestion if the deliveries do not gain pace in the coming days as the lockdown has been extended. Photo: Star/file
There has been a sharp fall in delivery of imported goods from the Chittagong port in the last six days since the countrywide lockdown was imposed on April 14 as importers are not taking the deliveries timely.
Overall container occupancy at the port yards is still at a comfortable level, sans those dedicatedly used for storing import laden containers.
But the port officials and users apprehend a possible container congestion if the deliveries do not gain pace in the coming days as the lockdown has been extended for one more week.
Bangladesh knitting mills to remain open during lockdown Published: 15 April 2021
Dhaka - Knitting mills across Bangladesh will continue to operate during the country s new Covid-19 lockdown following a plea from the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA).
With the industry key to the national economy, the Bangladeshi government agreed with concerns over closures, which also came from the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA).
The government has decided to allow factories to run during the lockdown, which began on 14 April following a spike in COVID-19 cases.
Faruque Hassan, president-elect of the BGMEA, confirmed in a WhatsApp message that it had been decided that all export-oriented industries would remain up and running during the lockdown.
Let factories run during lockdown
Garment makers urge govt
Star Business Report
Star Business Report
Textile and garment manufacturers and exporters yesterday demanded the government allow keeping factories open during the coming lockdown to help them offset the losses caused by the pandemic.
However, a number of business leaders, who held a virtual meeting with Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam yesterday, said they had received assurance from the government that export-oriented factories would be permitted to operate during the strict lockdown.
After the meeting, Faruque Hassan, the president-elect of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), said in a WhatsApp message that it was decided that all export-oriented industries would remain up and running during the lockdown, starting from April 14.
Staff Correspondent,
bdnews24.com
Published: 11 Apr 2021 09:01 PM BdST
Updated: 11 Apr 2021 09:01 PM BdST Workers wash hands with water and soap before entering a garment factory in Dhaka s Tejgaon on Monday, Apr 5, 2021 as a weeklong lockdown began to contain a surge in coronavirus cases. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi Workers enter a garment factory in Dhaka s Tejgaon by maintaining physical distancing on Monday, Apr 5, 2021 as a weeklong lockdown began to contain a surge in coronavirus cases. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi
Apparel industry entrepreneurs are claiming to have received the greenlight from the government to keep export-focused factories running as Bangladesh prepares to enter a complete lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19 from Apr 14.