Lockdown likely to be cut for industries

Arifur Rahaman Tuhin

The government will likely shorten the next spell of lockdown for all industries, including readymade garment units, allowing them to operate from August 1 instead of August 6 as originally planned.

Bangladesh is scheduled to undergo another spell of strict lockdown from July 23 to August 5 to stem the spread of coronavirus cases.

During this period, the transportation of rawhide and essential commodities is expected to be out of the lockdown’s purview and ports will remain open.

“I learned that readymade garment factories will open from August 1. If it happens, then other industries will continue production. Ports and supply of essential commodity will continue,” Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi told The Business Post.

He noted that the decisions could change based on the situation.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission in a letter urged the commerce ministry to allow the production of food items and essential commodities during the lockdown to keep the supply stable in the market.

State Minister of Public Administration Farhad Hossain on Saturday said that a strict lockdown will be enforced after the Eid-ul-Azha, scheduled to be celebrated on July 21. All factories will remain closed during that period.

His statement prompted the business community to request the prime minister to allow operation of factories to keep production uninterrupted.

Although there has been no official statement from the government, industry insiders told The Business Post that the government has responded positively.

“The ministry officials have confirmed us about allowing factories to operate from August 1 but it is yet to be officially announced. Hopefully, there will be an official announcement within a day or two,” Vice-President of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) Fazlee Shamim Ehsan said.

He said the operation of factories was necessary for the sake of the workers and the economy.

“We placed logical proposals to the government for keeping factories open and it responded positively,” former BGMEA president Abdus Salam Murshedy told The Business Post.

He led the team to place the demands to the Cabinet secretary.

Meanwhile, the commerce ministry formed two committees to keep the commodities supply uninterrupted and ensure transportation of rawhide after Eid.

On the other hand, seven teams of the ministry will monitor rawhide market in seven divisions. They will take instant actions if needed.

Commerce Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh told The Business Post that they would be monitoring commodity supply chain during the lockdown. He noted that they gave a proposal to the Cabinet Division to support rawhide trading and transportation during this period.

Mostofa Azad Chowdhury Babu, Senior Vice President of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industries said they demand to keep export-oriented and commodity-based factories out of the lockdown’s purview.

“But we are not clear what will happen. If the government closed commodity-based factories like rice mill, soyabean mill and others, it may create supply shortage. This will push up prices during the lockdown,” he said.

A Cabinet Division official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that they are scrutinising the proposals placed by the business community. “We will take a final decision soon,” the official said.