DHAKA, May 2, 2020 (BSS) – Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader
today urged the readymade garments (RMG) factory owners not to terminate any
worker amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
“I do believe the RMG factory owners will set an example of humanity.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government remains beside you. Stand by the
RMG workers and keep your pledges. Do not terminate any worker,” he said at a
virtual press conference on the contemporary affairs from his official
residence here.
Quader, also road transport and bridges minister, said before reopening
the RMG factories, the owners pledged that they would not terminate any
worker or go for layoff in any factory.
“They (owners) pledged that they would run their factories engaging the
workers staying in the capital and would provide a certain portion of
salaries to the RMG workers who are staying in different districts. They
would discourage workers to return to Dhaka,” he said.
But, the road transport and bridges minister said, the reality is that a
huge number of workers are returning to the capital from different areas
everyday as they have been asked to join their work.
“On Friday, layoff was announced in a factory in Gazipur. Workers were
terminated but it wasn’t supposed to happen,” he added.
Quader said the government has taken various measures, including
announcement of stimulus packages, to keep the RMG export orders effective
amid the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already
talked to the heads of the governments of different countries over phone to
this end.
He said: “The government remains beside the RMG factory owners and we hope
that the owners will stand by the workers.”
The AL general secretary said the coronavirus testing capacity of the
government has increased, and urged people to communicate with the
authorities concerned using helpline or hotlines if they have the symptoms of
COVID-19.
He said the prime minister is monitoring the country’s coronavirus
situation round-the-clock and giving necessary instructions in this regard.
“Keep trust in her (the premier)…of course, we will win in the fight
against coronavirus,” he added.
Quader said several members of Bangladesh Police, who have been fighting
coronavirus from the frontlines, have already died of COVID-19.
He prayed for the eternal peace of the departed souls of those who died of
COVID-19 and conveyed sympathy to their families, and sought early recovery
of the COVID-19 patients.
The minister said a doctor, one health worker, a journalist and a banker
also died of COVID-19.
He expressed gratitude to those who have been working from the frontlines
to fight the coronavirus – the doctors, nurses, health workers, field level
government officials, army personnel, cops, media personnel and emergency
service providers.