Despite countrywide curfew, export-oriented factories set to reopen on Wednesday with special consideration. The workers will have to show their workplace identity cards while crossing the check points when they go to the factories. In this case, their identity cards will work as curfew pass.
The decision was taken in a meeting between the Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and business leaders on Tuesday evening in Dhaka.
Confirming the matter, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President SM Mannan Kochi told The Business Post, “We received the permission to reopen factories from the higher authority of the government.”
“We are incurring Tk 1,600 crore loses every day for this abrupt closure of our factories. Additionally, our international buyers are anxious about their goods as they are totally disconnected from us due to the internet shutdown. We are not receiving new orders nor do our buyers know what is happening in our country. We urge government to restore internet service as soon as possible to further alleviate our losses,” he said.
Since last Thursday, Bangladesh has been experiencing complete internet blackout as unknown miscreants set fire the BTRC’s data centres situated inside the Mohakhali’s Disaster Management Building using the cover of quota reform movement.
Before that the 4G mobile internet service was also limited since Wednesday to curb the spread of rumours amid the unrest created by the movement.
Students of public and private university, college and school across the country observed a “complete shutdown” called by the Boishommo Birodhi Chhatra Andolon— a platform of quota reform movement, demanding quota reform for government jobs in all grades, protesting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s comment regarding the movement and justice for the deaths of their fellow protesters in the protest.
The student movement turned into a bloodbath, violence and chaos on that day that cost lives over 136 individuals when clashes ensued between students, law enforcers and ruling party student wings.
The government imposed countrywide curfew on Friday midnight with army deployment to help civil administration to bring stability, protect state and public properties and ensure civic security. The normalcy in public lives has mostly returned while government has said that the broadband internet might experimentally be restored.
Although the National Board of Revenue (NBR) asked officials to execute customs procedure manually, exporters said that this method is not working as banks are still closed.
The government on Tuesday announced curfew relaxation time from 10am to 5pm; however, factory workers generally log their entry time at 8am and closing at 5pm. That means, factory workers will be out during the curfew time.
Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) Executive President Mohammad Hatem said, “We urged the government to exempt the factory workers from the curfew restriction if they show their official identity cards. The home minister assured us they are taking necessary steps regarding the issue.”
No salary before bank opening
Industry insiders also report that a large number of factory workers did not receive their salaries as factory owners failed to pay them due to the bank closure. These factory workers are living a miserable life because of financial crisis.
Factory owners are still unsure when they will be able to disburse the salary as banks are still closed.
BGMEA President SM Mannan Kochi said, “Our workers are struggling due to the ongoing volatile situation, coupled with financial crisis, despite they are innocent. But how can we disburse their salaries when banking transactions are suspended due to the curfew and we are facing an internet shutdown?”
Kochi, however, assured that they will take necessary steps to pay the workers when banks will reopen.
“We will disburse their full salary even during the holidays,” he added.
