President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Dr Rubana Huq has said buyers have so far cancelled orders worth US$ 1.48 billion following the outbreak of coronavirus.

“We’re facing a dire situation. All the buyers from different places, countries and continents are temporary suspending the orders,” she said in a video message on Sunday.

Citing entries of 1,089 garment factories to their website, the BGMEA chief said 873,236,622 orders have so far been cancelled.

She also said there are 12 lakh workers in those factories.