Bangladesh Government has, reportedly, decided to relax the ongoing countrywide restrictions from 15 July to 22 July in view of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, to be held on 21 July, so as to facilitate trade and other economic activities.
However, in a notification issued on 13 July (Tuesday) by the Cabinet Division it has been underlined that from 23 July, all factories will remain closed for a period of 14 days in view of the surge of COVID-19 cases.
Media reports maintained this while adding that garment manufacturing units, which mostly remained out of the purview of lockdown — export-oriented factories, including garment factories, were allowed to operate amidst the lockdown earlier this year — will also remain closed, as per the notification.
Meanwhile, speaking to the media, garment exporters have, reportedly, maintained that the two-week shutdown after Eid could derail export recovery as apparel shipment will suffer a serious setback if production is halted in July and August as it is the prime season for apparel manufacturers — of the total apparel items shipped from Bangladesh, 40 per cent are exported in July and August — since sales increase in Western markets because of winter and Christmas.
It is not logical to suspend the production during this period, reportedly, maintained Managing Director of Plummy Fashions Ltd., Fazlul Hoque speaking to the media as he underlined that ‘it is a peak time for us to book new work orders and ship the goods for the next winter and Christmas’, while Senior Vice-President of the BGMEA, SM Mannan Kochi, on his part, reportedly, said that garment makers are in a dilemma now as there have been a lot of purchase orders in the last few months even as on the other hand, coronavirus situation in the country is also getting worse, but added closing of the factories for two weeks will affect the sector and there will be a big loss and many buyers may cancel orders.
