Garment factory owners today decided to keep their factories shut up to April 25, in line with the government's decision to extend the ongoing closure.

The decision was disbursed through a joint statement by Rubana Huq, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), and AKM Salim Osman, president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA).

The joint statement was posted on a WhatsApp message thread to a group of journalists by the BGMEA today.

If any factory owner wants to pay the workers during this time they need to inform the BGMEA, BKMEA, and Industrial Police, according to the statement.

Earlier, both the associations suggested their members complete the payment of March salaries to the garment workers by April 16.