11:46 am, Friday, 7 February 2025

Bangladesh’s RMG factories reopen Wednesday

The country’s export-oriented readymade garment factories will resume operations on Wednesday following a four-day closure due to unrest over the quota reform movement.

The announcement came after a meeting with Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Tuesday night.

Mohammad Hatem, executive president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), stated, ‘All factories will reopen from Wednesday across the country, and the identity cards of workers and employees will be considered as curfew passes.’

The government announced a relaxation of the curfew from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM for Wednesday and Thursday. Additionally, offices will remain open from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM on these days, although this schedule does not apply to factories.

Factories have been closed since Saturday due to a curfew imposed on July 19 following clashes over quota reform protests that began on July 16.

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and BKMEA have held several meetings with government authorities, seeking exemption from the curfew for RMG factories, but their requests were initially denied.

On Monday, trade body leaders met with the home minister, requesting permission to reopen factories on Tuesday.

However, the minister advised keeping the units shut until further notice.

Business leaders also urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to reopen factories and restore internet connectivity to facilitate exports and imports.

The Prime Minister responded that factory owners could reopen their factories at their discretion, but the government would not take responsibility for any incidents.

According to BGMEA and BKMEA, some factories in Chattogram resumed operations on Tuesday without incidents.

BGMEA reported that the sector has been incurring losses of approximately TK 16,000 crore per day due to the suspension of production.

They also expressed concern that the recent unrest could damage the industry’s reputation and erode buyer confidence, potentially leading to a shift of export orders to other countries.

Bangladesh’s RMG factories reopen Wednesday

Update Time : 09:52:37 pm, Tuesday, 23 July 2024

The country’s export-oriented readymade garment factories will resume operations on Wednesday following a four-day closure due to unrest over the quota reform movement.

The announcement came after a meeting with Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Tuesday night.

Mohammad Hatem, executive president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), stated, ‘All factories will reopen from Wednesday across the country, and the identity cards of workers and employees will be considered as curfew passes.’

The government announced a relaxation of the curfew from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM for Wednesday and Thursday. Additionally, offices will remain open from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM on these days, although this schedule does not apply to factories.

Factories have been closed since Saturday due to a curfew imposed on July 19 following clashes over quota reform protests that began on July 16.

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and BKMEA have held several meetings with government authorities, seeking exemption from the curfew for RMG factories, but their requests were initially denied.

On Monday, trade body leaders met with the home minister, requesting permission to reopen factories on Tuesday.

However, the minister advised keeping the units shut until further notice.

Business leaders also urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to reopen factories and restore internet connectivity to facilitate exports and imports.

The Prime Minister responded that factory owners could reopen their factories at their discretion, but the government would not take responsibility for any incidents.

According to BGMEA and BKMEA, some factories in Chattogram resumed operations on Tuesday without incidents.

BGMEA reported that the sector has been incurring losses of approximately TK 16,000 crore per day due to the suspension of production.

They also expressed concern that the recent unrest could damage the industry’s reputation and erode buyer confidence, potentially leading to a shift of export orders to other countries.