Bangladesh is in a countrywide shutdown till 25 April and so are most of the readymade garment factories excepting those that are producing the Personal Protective Equipment for the frontline COVID-19 fighters like doctors, paramedics, etc.
Even as the shutdown continues, some worrying news of workers’ agitation has started emerging since Sunday morning in and around Dhaka. As per media reports, workers of many garment factories hit the streets since Sunday morning demanding release of their salary of the previous month.
Meanwhile, the apex garment makers’ body of the country, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has come out to clarify that as many as 761 out of 2,274 members of the traders’ body have already disbursed the wages notwithstanding the Coronavirus outbreak.
It also assured that the remaining garment factories would do the needful by 16 April.
“I urge all sides to have patience. The transport system has come to a complete standstill and the commercial banks are not operating in full swing,” underlined BGMEA President Dr. Rubana Huq while calling upon the stakeholders to keep faith on BGMEA and the factory owners, who are now facing a host of issues including significant drop in apparel exports.
