Staff Reporter :
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Sayeed Khokon on Saturday called upon the Commerce Minister to keep garment factories shut to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
He made the request after getting a number of phone calls from citizens who expressed their concerns over the returning of garment workers to the capital.
Thousands of RMG workers started returning to Dhaka as the government announced first phase of 10-day general holidays ended Saturday.
Though the government extended the holidays till April 11, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) is yet to decide on extending the holidays for the sector.
As a result, thousands of garment workers started entering Dhaka from Friday amid the risk of a large-scale coronavirus outbreak.
Bangladesh on Saturday reported nine new coronavirus cases and two deaths. So far, the country has confirmed 70 cases and eight deaths.
The global death toll from coronavirus jumped to 59,203 on Saturday. COVID-19 has so far infected 11,17,918 people around the world, according to Worldometer.
Meanwhile, Mayor Khokon inaugurated a food distribution programme at Nagar Bhaban, said Uttam Kumar Roy, public relations officer, of DSCC.
