255 garment factories reopen in Chattogram amid Covid-19 outbreak
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Fact Check
    • Family
    • Food
    • Game Reviews
    • Good Practices
    • Habitat
    • Humour
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wealth
    • Wellbeing
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Saturday
January 28, 2023

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Fact Check
    • Family
    • Food
    • Game Reviews
    • Good Practices
    • Habitat
    • Humour
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wealth
    • Wellbeing
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 2023
255 garment factories reopen in Chattogram amid Covid-19 outbreak

RMG

Abu Sayem
26 April, 2020, 05:00 pm
Last modified: 26 April, 2020, 05:44 pm

Related News

  • 4 held in Ctg while smuggling endangered animals
  • BGMEA calls on PVH to buy more high-end apparels from Bangladesh
  • BGMEA demands withdrawal of tax on fuel import
  • Epic Health Care introduces Spiro-Feno-FOT combo test in Ctg
  • Man sentenced to death for killing 2 Tripura girls after rape

255 garment factories reopen in Chattogram amid Covid-19 outbreak

More than one lakh workers have returned to work

Abu Sayem
26 April, 2020, 05:00 pm
Last modified: 26 April, 2020, 05:44 pm
File photo: Apparel workers are returning to their workplaces in Chattogram. The huge numbers of workers walking together at the same time makes it crowded during the opening and closing time of the factories, increasing the risk of coronavirus contamination. The photo was taken from Chattogram EPZ area. Photo: Mohammad Minhaj Uddin/TBS
File photo: Apparel workers are returning to their workplaces in Chattogram. The huge numbers of workers walking together at the same time makes it crowded during the opening and closing time of the factories, increasing the risk of coronavirus contamination. The photo was taken from Chattogram EPZ area. Photo: Mohammad Minhaj Uddin/TBS

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturer and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) have reopened 255 export-oriented garment factories in Chattogram, including in three export processing zones (EPZs). Along with 157 other factories, a total of 412 factories are operational in Chattogram. More than one lakh workers have already returned to work. The owners have re-opened the factories amid the rising risks of Covid-19 in the country. 

EPZ authorities say work orders from foreign buyers and factories are being opened to continue exports. They say these factories started operating on a limited scale "in compliance with proper hygiene norms."

District Civil Surgeon Sheikh Fazle Rabbi is not convinced that this will not create a risk of infection in workers and employees. He warned that any such gathering would pose a risk of novel coronavirus infection. The doctor said that in order to reopen a factory, strict hygiene rules must be followed.
Meanwhile, the workers are suffering because public transportation is shut. Owners say those living close to the factories have been asked to return to work. However, the industrial police say workers are returning from far and wide. Industrial Police Super, Uttam Kamura Pal, said, "A total of 412 factories are in operation in Chattogram. Of these, 127 factories have been reopened in three export processing zones. These factories are operating at limited capacity. We have been instructed to maintain social distancing and adhere to hygiene rules."

According to industry police, 92 BGMEA factories, 74 factories in the Chattogram EPZ (CEPZ), 28 factories in the Karnaphuli EPZ, 25 factories in the Korean EPZ, 31 BKMEA factories, 5 BTMEA factories and 157 other factories reopened on Sunday. The 412 factories include ready-made garment (RMG) and non-RMG production. There are 711 garment factories and 518 non-RMG factories in Chattogram.

Apparel workers are returning to their workplaces in Chattogram. The huge numbers of workers walking together at the same time makes it crowded during the opening and closing time of the factories, increasing the risk of coronavirus contamination. The photo was taken from Chattogram EPZ area today. Photo: Mohammad Minhaj Uddin/TBS
Apparel workers are returning to their workplaces in Chattogram. The huge numbers of workers walking together at the same time makes it crowded during the opening and closing time of the factories, increasing the risk of coronavirus contamination. The photo was taken from Chattogram EPZ area today. Photo: Mohammad Minhaj Uddin/TBS

The Chattogram and Karnaphuli EPZs are under the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA). Meanwhile, the Korean EPZ is owned by Youngone Corporation Anwara upazila.

Khurshid Alam, general manager of BEPZA in charge of the CEPZ, said that 74 companies with urgent shipments and ongoing orders have reopened their factories in the country's largest EPZ, the Chattogram export processing area. He said 20 to 25 percent of workers returned to work in those factories on the first day. In all, about 45,000 workers have returned to work. The companies who have orders from Japan and South Korea have reopened their factories.

The Chattogram EPZ has 158 factories – for ready-made garments, tents, electronics, fabric, shoes and other products – and has about two lakh workers. There are about 76,000 workers in 41 factories in the Karnaphuli EPZ. Plus there are about 25,000 workers in the 22 factories of the Korean EPZ.

After the shutdown was extended several times to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, 69 factories in the Chattogram and Karnaphuli EPZs applied for lay-offs.

Mashiuddin bin Mezbah, general manager of the Karnaphuli EPZ, said 25-30 factories in the EPZ approached authorities for a partial reopening as they had export orders. They have been given guidelines to fully comply with hygiene rules. The EPZ authorities will closely monitor whether the factory owners are adhering to the rules.

Meanwhile, Anwara Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), Sheikh Mohammad Jubayer said Chattogram's only private EPZ, the Korean EPZ, has fully reopened. He said all the workers of the EPZ have returned to work.

A total of 324 factories under BGMEA have reopened in Chattogram. Of these, 20 to 22 companies were in operation due to foreign work orders. An additional 20 to 25 companies were relaunched on Sunday. BGMEA Director Mohammad Atiq, said, "Some of the factories that had been opened earlier were closed again. A total of 40 factories have been reopened, in Chattogram, since Sunday. Those who have shipments pending are reopening factories with limited capacity. However, BGMEA has instructed all the factories to follow the rules and regulations to prevent Covid-19 from spreading."

The Bangladesh Garments Accessories and Packaging Manufacturers and Exporters Association's first vice-president Latifur Rahman Azim also said that BKMEA has reopened nine accessories manufacturing factories in Chattogram.

Bangladesh / Top News

Chattagram / Garment factories / workers / BGMEA

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • How will Bangladesh pay for massive upcoming power projects this year?
    How will Bangladesh pay for massive upcoming power projects this year?
  • Photo: Mumit M/TBS
    Additional Tk2,682cr sought for Padma Bridge project
  • Now is the time to focus on FDI composition
    Now is the time to focus on FDI composition

MOST VIEWED

  • Photo: Sustainable Apparel Coalition
    Sustainable Apparel Coalition partners with Bangladesh Apparel Exchange for fourth edition of Sustainable Apparel Forum
  • BGMEA calls on PVH to buy more high-end apparels from Bangladesh
    BGMEA calls on PVH to buy more high-end apparels from Bangladesh
  • Photo: Courtesy
    10 Bangladeshi companies participating at Texworld USA 2023
  • TBS Sketch
    Entrepreneurs should focus on upskilling manpower 
  • Sketch: TBS
    The German Due Diligence Act: Are we ready?
  • Sketch: TBS
    What should be the management strategy of our apparel industry in 2023

Related News

  • 4 held in Ctg while smuggling endangered animals
  • BGMEA calls on PVH to buy more high-end apparels from Bangladesh
  • BGMEA demands withdrawal of tax on fuel import
  • Epic Health Care introduces Spiro-Feno-FOT combo test in Ctg
  • Man sentenced to death for killing 2 Tripura girls after rape

Features

Now is the time to focus on FDI composition

Now is the time to focus on FDI composition

35m | Panorama
Sketch:TBS

Why we need consumer education for consumer wellbeing

20h | Thoughts
Dr Ahsan H Mansur, Executive Director, Policy Research Institute. Illustration: TBS

Twin shocks call for stronger domestic policy response

21h | Thoughts
December-er shohor, taxi taken for airport and the Park Street bathed in lights. Photo: Jannatul Naym Pieal

Exploring Kolkata on foot, empowered by Google Maps

22h | Explorer

More Videos from TBS

Kajol’s road paintings bring change in Gafargaon

Kajol’s road paintings bring change in Gafargaon

1d | TBS Stories
Carew & Company witnessed a remarkable growth

Carew & Company witnessed a remarkable growth

1d | TBS Stories
Gavi may have to leave Camp Nou

Gavi may have to leave Camp Nou

11h | TBS SPORTS
After all the controversies, how is Shah Rukh Khan's ‘Pathaan’?

After all the controversies, how is Shah Rukh Khan's ‘Pathaan’?

13h | TBS Entertainment

Most Read

1
Picture: Collected
Bangladesh

US Embassy condemns recent incidents of visa fraud

2
Four top bankers arrested in DSA case filed by S Alam group 
Bangladesh

Four top bankers arrested in DSA case filed by S Alam group 

3
Illustration: TBS
Banking

16 banks at risk of capital shortfall if top 3 borrowers default

4
Photo: Collected
Splash

Hansal Mehta responds as Twitter user calls him 'shameless' for making Faraaz

5
A frozen Beyond Burger plant-based patty. Photographer: AKIRA for Bloomberg Businessweek
Bloomberg Special

Fake meat was supposed to save the world. It became just another fad

6
Representational Image
Banking

Cash-strapped Islami, Al-Arafah and National turn to Sonali Bank for costly fund

EMAIL US
[email protected]
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2023
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - [email protected]

For advertisement- [email protected]