Upcoming lockdown shortened for garment sector

The readymade garment factories of Bangladesh will remain closed from July 23 to July 31, instead of August 5, the last day of the lockdown the government is keen to impose from July 23 to halt the Covid-19.

The government has agreed in principle to open the garment factories from the date following the initiatives of the senior leaders of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association.

BKMEA Vice-President Fazlee Shamim Ehsan confirmed the matter to The Business Post on Sunday.

The announcement comes just a day after ‎State Minister of Public Administration Farhad Hossain said the restriction after Eid-ul-Azha is going to be the “strictest” ever imposed in Bangladesh.

At a programme on Saturday, he said garments and industries would remain closed during the restrictions after the Eid.

On July 13, the government announced easing lockdown restrictions from July 15 till July 23 considering the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, which will be celebrated on July 21.

However, a stricter lockdown will resume from 6:00am on July 23 to August 5 midnight.

Meanwhile, the authorities in Bangladesh on Sunday began vaccinating the RMG workers against Covid-19.

The vaccination programme began at the Tushuka Denim and Tushuka Washing Limited in RMG hub Gazipur, near capital Dhaka, said Gazipur Deputy Commissioner SM Tarikul Islam.

Local lawmaker Zahid Ahsan Russel told reporters on Saturday 10,000 workers from four factories would receive the vaccine on the opening day.