Apparel, accessories makers urge PM to keep factories open during lockdown

Garments, textile, terry towel and garment accessories makers sent a letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the cabinet secretary with the demand of keeping apparel factories open during the countrywide lockdown.

Bangladesh will lose $119.38 million per day only from garment export if the factories remain shut for any reason, they also said in a joint statement.

In the first 14 days of the current fiscal year, the garment sector is expected to earn around $1.68 billion, according to the statement.

If the factories are kept shut for nearly three weeks, the garment sector will lose a lot of work orders and few billions of dollars, the letter also read.

The international retailers and brands have been coming with handful of work orders in Bangladesh as the clothing retail outlets have already been opened up in Europe and the USA, they said.

They urged the prime minister to shorten the lockdown period so that the production continues in the factories to offset the losses.

Faruque Hassan, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association; AKM Salim Osman, president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association; Mohammad Ali Khokon, president of Bangladesh Textile Mills Association; Shahadat Hossain Sohel, chairman of Bangladesh Terry Towel and Linen Manufacturers and Exporters Association, andA bdul Kader Khan, president of Bangladesh Garment Accessories and Manufacturers and Exporters Association, signed in the joint letter.