Leaders of the country’s textile, readymade garment (RMG) and other related industries on Sunday demanded keeping their factories out of the purview of lockdown.
The demand came at a joint press conference held at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon in the capital.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), Exporters Association of Bangladesh (EAB), Bangladesh Terry Towel and Linen Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BTLLEMEA) and Bangladesh Garments Accessories and Packaging Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGAPMEA) organised the conference.
Speaking at the conference, BGMEA acting president Abdus Salam said the textile and apparel industry and other related industries are part of the global supply chain.
"Work orders were placed a couple of months ago while productions and shipments are also pre-fixed," he said.
If the lockdown is imposed on these sectors, they will face an array of disasters, including the cancellation of fresh orders, he explained, adding industries have to bear the negative impacts in the coming months if the supply chain is disrupted.
He further said that they are committed to strengthening the ongoing safety measures more rigorously and demanded keeping the whole textile and RMG and other related industries out of the lockdown purview.
BGMEA president-elect Faruque Hassan, BKMEA President AKM Salim Osman, EAB President Abdus Salam Murshedy, BTTLMEA Chairman Shahadat Hossain, BGAPMEA President Abdul Kader Khan, BCI President Anwarul Alam Chowdhury, FBCCI former presidents Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin and AK Azad, among others, spoke on the occasion.
