BGMEA demands Covid vaccine for garment workers on priority basis

Leaders of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) urged the government to prioritise workers in the ready-made garment industry in providing Covid vaccine.

The demand was made at a meeting of the Crisis Combat Committee of the Chattogram chapter of the BGMEA at its regional office on Wednesday.

BGMEA First Vice President Mohammed Abdus Salam, who chaired the meeting, said the garment industry had somehow managed to cope with the global Covid pandemic with the direct intervention of the prime minister and support from the government.

"The second wave has already begun to hit the industry. As lockdown-like situations prevail in almost half the European Union countries, we have to start the overall preparation right now," he said.

At the meeting, the leaders said the government should provide Covid vaccine to the ready-made garment workers on a priority basis as they are frontline fighters to keep the industry afloat during the second wave because the country's economy was stable during the pandemic period as this industry continued to thrive.

BGMEA Vice President AM Chowdhury Selim, directors AnjanShekhar Das, Mohammad Atik, KhandakerBelayet Hossain, Enamul Aziz Chowdhury, former first vicepresidents Nasir Uddin Chowdhury, Moinuddin Ahmed (Mintu), former vicepresident Mohammad Ferdous, former director Saifullah Monsoon, and Top Star Managing Director Abshar Hossain also spoke at the programme.

Former BGMEA director Enamul Haque Chowdhury and other members also attended the meeting.