VACCINATING WORKERS BGMEA seeks US, EU supports

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association sought financial support from US, European Union and global retailer Marks and Spencer to procure vaccines for RMG workers.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Faruque Hassan sent three separate letters to the US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl R Miller, European Union Ambassador in Dhaka Rensje Teerink and Marks and Spencer (M&S) Country Director Shwapna Bhowmick, making the call.

“Bangladesh government has been very supportive of providing us the necessary vaccines, but the stock of available vaccines is the key issue in mass vaccination of the RMG workers,” said Faruque Hassan in the letter.

“Given the success of the vaccination in the factories, and the success in the general Covid-19 vaccination programme and process with app-based registration and certification, we believe that Bangladesh is capable of successfully vaccinating the population if sufficient vaccines are available,” it said.

“The speed of vaccination … for combating the Covid-19 pandemic depends on the availability of vaccines. We seek your help and assistance in procuring vaccines for RMG workers and people of Bangladesh.”

“With gratefulness, we are acknowledging the vaccines already received from the US, but if excess vaccines can be earmarked for Bangladesh, it will help the RMG sector and Bangladesh tremendously, saving the life and livelihood of millions of people,” said the business leader.

To maintain maximum safety standard and to identify or isolate any suspected Covid-19 infected patients, rapid antigen test kits

will also be extremely beneficial and effective for an RMG factory environment, he added.

In his letter to Rensje Teerink Hassan wrote that they need EU’s help in buying vaccines for RMG workers. If any excess vaccines can be granted to Bangladesh, it will help the RMG sector and Bangladesh tremendously.

Due to the long duration of the pandemic and multiple waves of attacks, the RMG factories and the

Bangladesh government are getting extremely strapped on resources related to Covid-19 treatment of large number of infected patients, and maintaining the strict health and safety protocols for the factories, said Faruque

Hassan in a letter sent to Shwapna Bhowmick.

Any contribution for the BGMEA in funding Covid-19 assistance as well as supply of rapid antigen test kits will be highly appreciated, he added.