In a major development, which is expected to provide some relief to the export-oriented industries including the readymade garment sector of Bangladesh ahead of the ensuing 7-day lockdown from 14 April, export-oriented industries in the country have, reportedly, been allowed to operate during this period.
Media reports maintained this while quoting the President-elect of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), in this regard.
Citing Faruque Hassan, the report maintained that a meeting was held recently between Tipu Munshi (Commerce Minister) and the business leaders including Faruque, President of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) Selim Osman, Bangladesh Textile Mill Association (BTMA) President Mohammad Ali Khokon amongst others in this regard.
Underlining that the industry has survived a major crisis, Faruque, reportedly, maintained “…The decision is to keep all the export-oriented Industry open during the lockdown,” in a statement while adding that the team ‘effectively negotiated’ and pleaded the cases in favour of keeping factories open to all key policy and decision-makers of the Government even as he went on to underline that the team’s efforts led to a positive decision by the COVID-19 inter-ministry task force presided over by the Cabinet Secretary.
