After a trying year, cement makers bracing for slow recovery With the year about to come to a close, the cement sector finally experienced some relief from the ongoing pandemic thanks to increased consumption alongside fresh investments. Makers of the key construction material have been in a tight spot since the Covid-19 outbreak began as almost all major development projects in the country, both public and private, were halted for an extended period. "The cement sector managed to survive even though the manufacturers sat idle throughout April-September," Mohammed Amirul Haque, managing director of Premier Cement, told The Daily Star. But now, there are various projects to work on, including mega projects such as the Karnaphuli Tunnel.