Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said some readymade garment (RMG) factories can resume operation with limited workers, after ensuring their health, safety, accommodation, and transport facilities. The premier made the remark while replying to Gazipur Superintendent of Police (SP) Shamsunnahar during a video conference on Monday morning. “RMG owners may continue operation with a few labourers if they can provide health safety and a safe accommodation and transportation for the workers,” the premier commented. At the video conference, Gazipur SP Shamsunnahar blamed owners of garment factories for the spread of the novel coronavirus in the district. “Owners of garment factories owners brought back thousands of workers amid lockdown, after that Covid-19 positive patients were identified in Gazipur,” she said. “There were no coronavirus patients in Gazipur before the garment workers returned to the district following orders of reopening on April 4,” Shamsunnahar commented. She also said after the factories announced their reopening, thousands of workers returned to Gazipur from coronavirus-affected district like Narayanganj and many other districts. “A good number of garment workers are still in Gazipur as many factories did not pay their salaries yet.” Replying to Shamsunnahar, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said she would discuss the matter with garment owners. However, the premier also added that RMG factories may continue operation in a limited way. Public representatives and officials of Manikganj, Gazipur, Tangail, and Kishoreganj in Dhaka division and Jamalpur, Sherpur, Netrokona, and Mymensingh in Mymensingh division have been connected to the videoconference. Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar along with private television channels and radio stations aired the program live.
