Bangladesh鈥檚 export-oriented readymade garment factories are going to resume its operation on Wednesday after four four-day closure since Saturday due to the unrest over the quota reform movement.
Apparel sector leaders made the announcement of reopening of all factories from Wednesday following a meeting with home minister Asaduzzaman Khan at his residence in the city on Tuesday night.
鈥楢ll the factories will reopen from Wednesday across the country and the identity cards of workers and employees will be considered as curfew pass,鈥� Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association executive president Mohammad Hatem told 抖阴精品.
The government on Tuesday, announced to relax curfew from 10:00am to 5:00pm for Wednesday and Thursday.
At the same time, the government announced that offices will remain open from 11:00am to 3:00pm for the two days.
Hatem said that the 11:00am to 3:00pm office time would not be applicable for the factories.
Factories remained shut from Saturday as the government imposed a curfew across the country from midnight past July 19 due to the clashes across the country over quota reform protests, starting from July 16.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association hold meetings repeatedly with the government authorities to keep RMG factories out of the purview of curfew but the government did not allowed.
On Monday, the leaders of the trade bodies also hold a meeting with the home minister and requested to allow operation of factories from Tuesday but the minister suggested to keep the units shut until further decision from the government.
At a views exchange meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, country鈥檚 business leaders on Monday urged the government to reopen factories across the country and restore internet connection to resume exports and imports business.
Businesses also said that closure of factories and internet shutdown might prompt global buyers to shift export orders to other countries from Bangladesh.
Responding to their demand, prime minister said that if the factory owners want they can open their factories on their own and if any accident takes place the government will not bear the responsibility.
According to BGMEA and BKMEA, some of the factories in Chattogram started operation on Tuesday without facing any untoward incidents.
BGMEA in a message on Monday claimed that the sector has been incurring losses worth TK 16,000 crore per day for the suspension of production.
Moreover, the image crisis caused by the recent unrest could not be measured by money, the trade body said.
BGMEA feared that buyers might lose their confidence due to the recent event and it would be a great loss for the industry.