After almost a month of being shut down, the readymade garment sector in Bangladesh has resumed operations from 26 April.
Since 26 March, most RMG factories have remained shut as the country is under a lockdown to halt the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
On Sunday, certain number of garment manufacturing units affiliated to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) have resumed operations but on a limited scale.
Earlier the Government formed a task force headed by the former President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, to work out a roadmap on the re-opening of the industries.
According to concerned officials, a total of 502 BGMEA factories have resumed operations on Sunday, including 92 in Chittagong, 25 in Dhaka metropolitan area, 238 in Gazipur, 18 in Narayanganj and 129 in Ashulia and Savar.
In the first phase, factories have been allowed to operate with only 30 per cent workforce, the quantum of which has been allowed to go up to 50 per cent gradually depending on how things shape up.
Further, it has also been advised that the workers living within the vicinity of the respective factories can be summoned to join duties, while those who have moved out of the capital city following the Government-enforced shutdown, be allowed to remain in their respective villages for the time being.
