All 2,151 factories running under the Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) have cleared their wages for the month of March 2023. 

Among them, festival bonuses were paid in 2145 factories (99.72%), according to data shared by the BGMEA. 

The remaining six factories were to complete bonus payments by today. 

Meanwhile, 1768 factories (82.19%) paid advance salaries for the month of April.

BGMEA President Faruque Hassan has expressed gratitude to all the entrepreneurs of the garment industry for their efforts to ensure a happy Eid-ul-Fitr by making payments to workers despite having various difficulties.

The BGMEA said it brought around 450 garment factories, which might face difficulties in paying their workers, under close monitoring and assisted them in solving their problems. 

Regarding Eid holidays, BGMEA said garment owners have started giving leave to their workers on the occasion of Eid in phases, which started on April 16 and continued till April 20 at the request of the government and the trade body. 

Faruque Hassan thanked the governor of Bangladesh Bank and the managing directors of the scheduled banks for keeping banks open during holidays and facilitating salary-bonus payments in the RMG factories.

He also called upon the government to step up vigilance to ensure that buses, trains, and launches do not carry passengers beyond their capacity and requested the government to ensure that passengers are not transported in trucks to avoid untoward accidents during the Eid journey.

He also extended thanks and gratitude to the Minister of Road Transport and Bridges, the Commerce Ministry, the Home Minister, the Shipping Minister, the State Minister for Labour and Employment, the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, the law enforcement agencies, the intelligence agencies, labour leaders, and journalists for their cooperation in ensuring that garment workers can happily celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with their near and dear ones.