Ensuring vaccines and maintaining health guidelines should be focused on, says president of the top trade body
The government imposed lockdowns in various phases when the first Covid-19 cases were detected in March 2020 Credit: Mehedi Hassan
Tribune Desk
Publish : 12 Jan 2022, 05:30 PMUpdate : 12 Jan 2022, 05:32 PM
The country’s apex trade body, Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) has called upon the government to not impose lockdowns even if the Covid-19 situation worsens.
“No other country in the world is imposing lockdowns because it's detrimental to the economy,” its President Md Jashim Udin said on Wednesday during an event at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity.
“Our exports have picked up after the businesses reopened last year,” he said, adding that despite the pandemic the GDP has increased to 5.47%.
“The business community fears that lockdowns will be imposed as infections have surged once more,” said Jashim.
“Last year when the garment factories were closed for nearly 14 days, many workers quit,” he said before adding lockdown was not the solution.
He said instead of lockdowns more importance must be put on vaccination and ensuring that health guidelines are maintained.
As the Omicron variants wreaks havoc across the rest of the world, Bangladesh saw single-day infections cross 2,400 on Tuesday. The daily positivity rate is also touching 9%.
The government recently imposed 11-point restrictions amidst the surge in infections.
Starting Thursday, all social, political and religious gatherings have been banned while public transports have been directed to operate with half the passenger capacity.
Moreover, vaccine certificates have been made mandatory to enter hotels and restaurants and students above 12-years of age have been asked not to return to school without vaccine shots.
The government imposed lockdowns in various phases when the first cases were detected in March 2020.
Last year, when the Delta variants made its way to the country, another lockdown from April to May was imposed but the factories were allowed to remain open.
Moreover, education institutions were also reopened for in-person classes on a limited scale in September last year after remaining closed for nearly a year and half.
FBCCI: No more lockdowns
Ensuring vaccines and maintaining health guidelines should be focused on, says president of the top trade body
The country’s apex trade body, Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) has called upon the government to not impose lockdowns even if the Covid-19 situation worsens.
“No other country in the world is imposing lockdowns because it's detrimental to the economy,” its President Md Jashim Udin said on Wednesday during an event at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity.
“Our exports have picked up after the businesses reopened last year,” he said, adding that despite the pandemic the GDP has increased to 5.47%.
“The business community fears that lockdowns will be imposed as infections have surged once more,” said Jashim.
“Last year when the garment factories were closed for nearly 14 days, many workers quit,” he said before adding lockdown was not the solution.
He said instead of lockdowns more importance must be put on vaccination and ensuring that health guidelines are maintained.
As the Omicron variants wreaks havoc across the rest of the world, Bangladesh saw single-day infections cross 2,400 on Tuesday. The daily positivity rate is also touching 9%.
The government recently imposed 11-point restrictions amidst the surge in infections.
Starting Thursday, all social, political and religious gatherings have been banned while public transports have been directed to operate with half the passenger capacity.
Moreover, vaccine certificates have been made mandatory to enter hotels and restaurants and students above 12-years of age have been asked not to return to school without vaccine shots.
The government imposed lockdowns in various phases when the first cases were detected in March 2020.
Last year, when the Delta variants made its way to the country, another lockdown from April to May was imposed but the factories were allowed to remain open.
Moreover, education institutions were also reopened for in-person classes on a limited scale in September last year after remaining closed for nearly a year and half.
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