The garment factory is still running
Exclusive news desk: Garment factories have been declared closed till April 14 to prevent coronavirus infection. However, as there is no obligation to declare a holiday, there are reports of factories being kept open in different areas at risk of corona infection. About 300 factories in Gazipur have already resumed their production activities without any leave. Hundreds of thousands of workers are working in these factories. Not all rules for preventing viral infections are being followed. Work is also going on in several factories in Savar, Dhaka.
As per the announcement of the first phase, after taking a 10-day holiday, last Sunday (April 5), lakhs of workers came to Gazipur from far and wide to join the work. But with the extension of one week’s leave in the second phase, most of those workers are returning to their village homes. Over the last few days, they have been seen waiting in various places on the streets. They are also riding in different vehicles. Due to the large number of people gathering and their movement and coming and going, there is a panic among the people of Gazipur about the corona infection.
Inspector Islam Hossain, in-charge of the intelligence branch of the Gazipur Industrial Police, said various factories in Gazipur were closed due to government directives to prevent corona virus infection. However, till Tuesday, there are 26 cars including Kojima Garments in Naljani area of the district (in front of GMP headquarters), TMS Fashion in Mollapara area of South Salna, Imagine Fashion in Degerchala area, Taqwa Garments of Nantabur Group in Beherarchala area of Sreepur and Pak Star Bangladesh Limited in Barabari area. The authorities have kept these factories open at their own risk.
Crown Exclusive Wars Limited (Sweater Factory) in Pathar Par area of Mauna Union in Sreepur Upazila is forcing the workers to join their work without any health protection. The factory’s Knitting Jacquard Operator, Mending Operator, Swing Operator and Cleaner, among others, who did not want to be named, said authorities were forcing workers to keep the factory open despite panic. They allege that the authorities have kept the factory running without any security for the workers by providing nominal hand washing.
They added that the authorities fired him if he spoke more cautiously about Corona. Workers are forced to work at risk for fear of dismissal.
Abul Kalam Azad, general manager (operations) of the factory, said, “We have kept the factory running in compliance with 100 per cent of the coronavirus government guidelines.” So they are spreading notoriety in the name of the factory. With shipment orders, we are working with 100% health security of the workers. The factory will be closed on Tuesday after paying all the salaries and allowances of the workers.
Saidul Islam, a worker at Ridisha Knit factory in Dhanua area of Sreepur, said, ‘I work in the factory from a local mess. But after the factory was closed, the cook left. Due to the difficulty of living and eating in it, I went out on the road to go to Ishwarganj area of Mymensingh. Walking about two kilometers north of Nayanpur in Sreepur to Jaina Bazar, I did not find any vehicle. So I am thinking of going to my destination on foot. ‘
Piyush Kumar Dey, Assistant Commissioner, Traffic Police (South), Gazipur Metropolitan GMP, said, “Apart from covered vans, trucks, ambulances and doctors’ vehicles, no passenger vehicles are running on the roads and highways of Gazipur except two / one autorickshaws.” They are being stopped and legal action is being taken against them. Even then some people are on their way home. In fact, there is not enough awareness among people about corona infection. There is still a class of people and vehicles without a highway to go empty. Again, many try to travel far and wide in pick-ups. The drivers of some of these vehicles have been alerted in the morning and legal action has been taken against some of them.
Gazipur Additional Superintendent of Police (Additional SP) Russell Sheikh said, ‘No vehicles are allowed to move outside the whole of Gazipur. For this, checkposts have been set up at Rajendrapur in Gazipur, Jaina Bazar in Sreepur, Chandra (in front of Square Factory) in Kaliakair and Ulukhola area in Kaliganj so that no vehicle other than emergency service vehicles can enter and exit Gazipur. However, if someone wants to go to their village home in their own car for an emergency, they are being shown some leniency. However, two classes of people have been seen taking to the streets, one of them being indigent people, who have been seen going out to earn money or food. Others are wealthy people, they are trying to get out of the car with various excuses.
He said, “When a man was arrested in Gazipur Sadar, the man informed the police that he had to go to a garment factory where PPE and masks were being made. Another passenger went out in a private car with his family to go to the doctor. Later, while checking the medical documents, it was found that he had deleted the date of two years ago with fluid and written the date of the current year and went out for other work. ‘
Gazipur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Anwar Hossain said, “Checkposts have been set up at Tongi Station Road, Gazipura, Boardbazar, Chandna-Chourasta, BRTC Crossing, Shivbari, Rajbari, Konabari and Rajendrapur on the Dhaka-Mymensingh-Tangail highway.” Try to run auto rickshaw, CNG on the branch road