The Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) on Monday initiated a special monitoring drive on enforcing health guidelines in apparel factories to halt coronavirus among industrial workers.
The monitoring was directed by the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
A letter signed by Shib Nath Roy, inspector general (IG) at DIFE on Saturday asked all deputy inspector generals (DIGs) to monitor whether factories were complying with the health guidelines, including physical distancing, set by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
If any DIG finds any violation of the safety measures, they will serve warning letters to factory management.
The DIGs can also take action as per the law if factories repeat the guideline violation or fail to rectify the shortcomings.
"We began monitoring in Gazipur from yesterday to find whether factories are complying with the guidelines and protocols set by the health ministry," Md Yousuf Ali, DIG of DIFE Gazipur zone, told Dhaka Tribune.
All the inspectors under the zone were in field today (Monday) to monitor factories, he added.
Apparel manufacturers reopened factories in phases from April 26 with safety measures amid the countrywide shutdown to halt the spread of coronavirus.
Some other factories in jute and other sectors are also running in limited capacities.