COVID-19: Narayanganj EPZ, BSCIC Workers in Greater Risk

Workers in the Adamjee Export Processing Zone and Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) Fatullah industrial region are at greater risk of coronavirus infection, say health experts.

Civil Surgeon Dr. Imtiaz said that day-to-day workers enter and leave industrial zones in broad numbers that present a danger of coronavirus transmission among them.

Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BKMEA) Senior Vice-President Md Hasem has given guidelines on social distance within factories, but workers do not obey the rules while they are out of factories.

Over 200,000 workers are working at the BSCIC industrial area in Fatullah, he said.

Jahangir Alam, leader of the local Samajtantrik Sramik Front, said it was a matter of serious concern that 230 factory employees were in near touch at the entrance of the industrial area.

He reported that several employees were already operating with coronavirus symptoms, and many of them may not have been tested.

Industrial police are patrolling the area and urging everyone to maintain social distance but very few are following the instruction, said Sheikh Bashir Ahmed, Inspector (Intelligence) of Narayanganj Industrial Police-4.

“We’re doing our best to inspire the worker to maintain proper hygiene,” he said.

Narayanganj, one of the worst-hit districts in Bangladesh, reported 1,021 confirmed coronavirus cases until Monday morning and 50 patients died.

So far, Bangladesh has recorded 10,143 confirmed cases and 182 fatalities. The government recently agreed to open factories on a small scale, but health experts criticized the decision.

They said the ‘premature’ step may trigger a deadly outbreak of the virus in the labor-intensive sectors.

Source: UNB