Open industrial businesses in compliance with hygiene rules

Top business leaders, economists, media personalities and prominent citizens of the country have called upon the government to open up industries and businesses, albeit to a limited extent, in compliance with the hygienic norms required to save the country’s economy and livelihood in the wake of the corona virus. They said small and medium enterprises, including export-oriented industries, should be reopened in phases to ensure the necessary health protection. They have proposed to form a task force to take various steps.

They said this at a discussion meeting organized by Bangladesh Federation of Industries and Merchants Association (FBCCI), the apex body of businessmen and industrialists, at Federation Bhaban in Motijheel on Saturday. Business leaders, economists and leaders of various district chambers joined the discussion online under the chairmanship of Sheikh Fazle Fahim, the president of the organization. Speaking on the occasion were Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam, Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman, Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shyamal Dutta, Banik Barta Editor Dewan Hanif Mahmud, Ekattar Television Managing Director and Editors Guild President Mozammel Babu, DBC Television Chief Editor Manzil Mohammad Ali Khokon, President of the Association (BTMA), or Ladesa Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) First Vice-President Mohammad Hatem, among others.

The speakers said that in order to save the livelihood of lakhs of workers and the economy of the country, even if limited in size, industries should be opened in phases. Rival countries like China, Vietnam, India, Cambodia have to decide what kind of decision they are taking at the moment to open their export oriented industries.

Calling for cautious action, Bhorer Kagoj editor Shyamal Dutt said some factories need to be reopened in compliance with hygiene rules. At the moment, 55 districts of the country are affected by corona. There are 40 districts in lockdown. There is no benefit in keeping people in areas where there is no lockdown. He said neighboring countries like India, America and Cambodia have opened some factories. Without it, we are not getting the benefits of lockdown. We do not understand how long our lockdown will last and how many days later we will benefit. So it should be considered whether some factories can be kept open in compliance with the hygiene rules. If we can keep the raw market open, why can’t we make arrangements to open small shops? We have to make a coordinated decision.

He said Benapole port should be opened. Because many Ramadan products are stuck in the port. The prices will go up in a couple of days. So in order to deal with these, some factories have to be opened, in compliance with the hygiene rules.

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Private Sector Salman F Rahman said that in order to save the country’s economy, in the light of realistic decision, industries and factories should be opened in phases. The whole world is at risk. Despite the risks, countries like Germany and France are slowly opening up their main industries. We also need to take action by reviewing various sectors through the FBCCI. He requested the FBCCI to prepare a guideline and give it to the government.

Research Institute Policy Research Institute (PRI) Executive Director. Ahsan H. Mansoor said that it is important to divide the industrial and various risky areas of the country by identifying them in red, yellow and green. In that case, FBCCI, BGME and other sectors will have to decide on the opening of the factory by determining the sector-based health protocol.

FBCCI President Sheikh Fazle Fahim said the FBCCI is working with the Ministry of Finance and Commerce, the Prime Minister’s Office, Bangladesh Bank and various business organizations to combat the corona virus. The government is working with the World Health Organization, ILO and other organizations on a strategy to gradually open up the country’s industries in compliance with possible health protocols. It is important to remove obstacles in the field of food transportation and supply of agricultural products.

Asking garment workers not to come to Dhaka and Narayanganj outside Dhaka, former FBCCI president Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin MP said work should start with workers in the vicinity of the factory. Workers who do not come, their salaries will go to mobile. Mir Nasir Hossain, another former president of the FBCCI, said the economy must be kept afloat in compliance with health regulations. Former President of FBCCI A. K. Azad said corona testing should be arranged in 64 districts. In this case, the private sector can come forward. Former FBCCI president Abdul Matlub Ahmad said the supply chain should be opened first. Transportation using rail and waterways will reduce stress.

The president of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce Industries (MCCI) said that in order to prevent the spread of the corona virus in the second phase, we must now be extremely vigilant. BGMEA President. Rubana Haque said there are demands to open 75 factories in the garment industry. So far, orders over িয়ন 3 billion have been canceled. We are under pressure to open the factory. Many have orders. Steps should be taken to open the factory with area based decision, day to day, limited size, health protection measures.

President of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mahbubul Alam demanded that a decision be taken to release the goods at Chittagong Port without any penalty till the 30th of this month. He said the shipping agents’ offices were open till 1pm, delaying the production of paper and imposing fines on traders. He demanded that the shipping office be kept open till 3 pm.

He said small and medium traders in Chittagong do business worth around Tk 36,000 crore in the month of Ramadan alone. But this time he has no chance. He called for a policy decision on how to gradually open up their business to health care.