Export-oriented factories should be opened up slowly maintaining health protocol

Collected
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s private sector adviser Salman F Rahman said Saturday to save lots of the economy the country’s export-oriented factories should be exposed slowly by maintaining necessary health protocol.

“We have to have a decision. We've Sweden model before us, they didn't enforce lockdown. In China’s Wuhan, a second wave of infection is occurring. Germany and France remain suffering, new infections and deaths are happening, but nonetheless they are checking their factories,” he said.

“We have to know how our economy will suffer, what is our health risk. But must start our economy gradually by firmly taking precautions,” he said.

Salman F Rahman asked the FBCCI to get ready a guideline about how it may be done.

He made the statement at a discussion organized by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI). Business leaders, economists, editors and policymakers joined the discussion.

Salman F Rahman joined the discussion nearly through zoom. It was moderated by FBCCI President Sheikh Fazle Fahim.

The discussion was also attended by the leaders of DCCI, BGMEA, BKMEA, BTMA, Editors’ Guilds, ATCO and different business chambers and associations.

Sheikh Fahim said the FBCCI was dealing with the Finance and Commerce ministries, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Bangladesh Bank  and various trade associations.

He said the federal government was speaking with the World Health Organization (WHO), ILO and other global bodies to prepare health protocols in order that opening up factories could be done in line with global standard.

Rubana Huq, president of the BGMEA, said these were under pressure to permit opening 856 factories.

She said global buyers have cancelled a lot more than $3 billion of orders and today it was crucial opening up the factories.

She said they would like to open the factories zone-wise, in a limited way and under a decided timeframe.

 Mahbubul Alam, president of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the importers were facing troubles at the Chittagong Seaport because they were not being able to get clearance because of limited office hours of the shipping agents and procedural delay by the customs.

“Because of that the importers are being fined, per container the fine is sometimes $70, it really is increasing the cost of business. I'd like the offices of the shipping agents be extended by two hours to 3:00 pm rather than 1:00 pm,” he said.

He said small and medium enterprises in Chittagong conduct business worth about 37,000 crore only through the month of Ramadan, but this time they are suffering due to coronavirus.

He requested the FBCCI to create some arrangements in order that SMEs can conduct business by taking health precautions.

Ahsan H Mansur, executive director of the Policy Research Institute, said that the commercial areas and the complete country should be categorized in red, yellow and green colours.

He said the FBCCI, BGMEA and other sectors should work together to prepare sector-based health protocols under that your factories could be opened up.

He appreciated the government-announced stimulus package to cope with the impact of coronavirus, but the amount ought to be increased. The discussion was also attended by former FBCCI presidents AK Azad, Mir Nasir Hossain, Matlub Ahmad, Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam, Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman and business and chamber leaders from Khulna, Sylhet, Sunamganj, Rangpur, Jamalpur.
Source: https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Tags :

Share this news on:

Previous Story

Trending Topics

Archive