Ignoring the risk of coronavirus transmission, hundreds of garment workers went back to Dhaka from Saturday night by trucks and pickups to join work apparently to save their jobs.
The workers are seen boarding trucks and pickups since Saturday night as no public transport was available due to the ongoing shutdown aimed at curbing the coronavirus transmission.
They said they returned back to Dhaka as factories opened on Sunday morning.
The workers said they have no way but to return to the work to feed their families.
They said they waited for long to manage any vehicle and even paid higher for travel on open trucks and pickups.
Officer-in-charge of Bangabandhu Bridge West Police Station said workers rushed back to Dhaka to join work.
Earlier on April 10, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BKMEA) decided to keep all garment factories closed until April 25, UNB reported.
Similar crowd of people was also seen at Munshiganj’s Shimulia ferry ghat on Sunday (April 26).
Many were travelling to Dhaka to join work amid the suspension of transport services.
Mawa BIWTA (Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority) Marine officer Md Ahammed and Naval Checkpost In-Charge Sirajul Islam said they estimated around 2,000 people crossing the river by ferries since morning.
