Coronavirus: Govt. Orders Ctg Manufacturer to Produce 50,000 Surgical Jackets

The global epidemic of coronavirus has culminated in a significant rise in demand for medical supplies such as masks, gloves, ventilators, and surgical jackets.

Although Bangladesh earned donations from foreign donors, there has been a rise in production domestically, too.

A producer in the Chattogram Export Processing Zone (CEPZ) — Smart Jacket (BD) Limited — has obtained a work order from the Ministry of Health for 50,000 sets of surgical jackets, our correspondent notes.

The business, a Smart Group of Industries concern, had previously supplied 90,000 sets of surgical jackets as part of their first order of operation.

"We regularly manufacture surgical jackets for an American buyer. Monday's Health Ministry asked us to make one lakh sets. After receiving the order we immediately managed to deliver 90,000 sets as they were already ready for export," Mujibur Rahman, the company's director, told media.

Today, the health ministry placed another order for 50,000 sets of surgical jackets.

The organization plans to produce, by next Thursday, 50,000 surgical jackets ordered today and the pending order of 10,000 from previous.

"From tomorrow (Sunday) nearly all factories will be closed but few factory employees are still interested in working more, some even two shifts if appropriate," added the manager.

The government has promised to pay production expenses for the business and the director of the company has stated that they are not trying to make a profit.