Banks  have been asked to continue operation on April 29 and 30 to facilitate payment of garment workers' salary, Eid bonus, allowances and export-import activities. Bangladesh Bank (BB) gave the directive to the scheduled banks through a circular on Monday. READ: Despite central bank's green light, banks shy to invest in capital market BB has asked banks to continue operation before Eid-ul-Fitr in the industrial areas in Dhaka metropolitan area, Ashulia, Tongi, Gazipur, Savar, Bhaluka, Narayanganj and Chittagong ensuring adequate security. The Department off-site Supervision of Bangladesh Bank issued the circular and sent it to the top executives of the banks to take necessary action.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Faruque Hassan has urged the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives to take immediate steps for repairing all the roads in major industrial areas. He made the request during a meeting with LGRD and Co-operatives Minister Md Tazul Islam MP at the secretariat on Thursday. BGMEA First Vice President Syed Nazrul Islam, Vice President Shahidullah Azim and Vice President Md. Nasir Uddin also attended the meeting. Read: Govt allows Bangladeshi companies to make overseas equity investment The BGMEA leaders said Gazipur, Chattogram, Narayganj, Savar, Ashulia and Mawna are the industrial hubs of Bangladesh where hundreds of industries including export-oriented garment factories are situated. But severe traffic jams due to damaged roads in the areas are causing immense sufferings for regular commuters including workers, employees and entrepreneurs every day and badly impacting the apparel and textile sector and other industries, they said. Transportation of raw materials and finished goods are seriously disrupted as goods-laden vehicles have to wait long hours on the dilapidated roads, they said.While nagging traffic jams take up from the valuable lead-time, extra hours in transportation is adding to production cost. Moreover, buyers and their representatives often show their unwillingness to travel to factories because of shabby road conditions, which is not good for the country’s image. The BGMEA leaders requested the LGRD Minister to take measures for repairing all the roads in the industrial areas in the quickest possible time to ensure smooth vehicular and passenger movement on the roads. Read: Japanese economic zone to go into production in 2023: Envoy They also apprised the LGRD Minister of the problems being faced by garment exporters in cases of issuance and renewal of trade licenses particularly in Gazipur City Corporation. The garment factories are facing difficulties in renewing their trade licenses after the Gazipur City Corporation added the condition of paying holding tax before license renewal. The BGMEA President urged the Minister to take measures to address the issues.