DHAKA, Jul 23 (NNN-BSS) – Garment factories in Bangladesh will remain closed during a two-week strict lockdown, which begins today, to curb the spread of COVID-19, led by the highly contagious Delta variant.
Authorities decided to impose the strict lockdown from today to Aug 5, after relaxing restrictions for a week on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, celebrated on Wednesday.
“During the lockdown, that is to be stricter than the ones imposed earlier, garment factories will remain closed,” Bangladeshi State Minister for Public Administration, Farhad Hossain told journalists, yesterday.
With the spread of the virus still rampant since last month, the government decided to close the readymade garment (RMG) factories, though the apparel manufacturers, in a letter recently, urged Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, to keep the sector, accounting for 80 percent of Bangladesh’s total export, out of the lockdown restrictions, like before.
The Bangladeshi Cabinet Division issued a gazette notification, detailing a new set of rules and regulations to be imposed during the latest lockdown.
According to the notification, the factories dealing with food and food processing, rawhide transportation, protection and processing, and industries manufacturing essential products for the prevention of COVID-19, remain out of the purview of the lockdown restrictions.
It said, no one will be allowed to go outside, except for trips for absolute necessity, such as purchasing medicine and daily life necessities, getting medical treatment, or attending burials or funerals.
Legal action will be taken against violators of the lockdown, it added.
Apart from law enforcers, Bangladeshi army personnel will also keep a strict vigil on the roads. According to the directives, all public transport services will be suspended, but goods-laden vehicles, production system and emergency services will not come under the purview of the lockdown.
In addition, offices, employees and transports involved in law and order enforcement and other services will remain out of the purview of the restrictions.
The Directorate General of Health Services of Bangladesh reported 187 new fatalities and 3,697 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 yesterday, taking the total tally to 1,140,200 with 18,685 deaths.– NNN-BSS
