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Despite the ongoing lockdown for the coronavirus pandemic, some silk factories in Rajshahi have resumed production by following the health rules and regulations set by the government.
However, most of the silk units in Rajshahi and Chpainawabganj districts still remain closed.
Sopura Silk Industries Limited, one of the largest private-sector silk producers in Rajshahi, is continuing its production from April 12 by following the health rules.
Authorities of Sopura Silk Industries informed, due to the lockdown, activities of the factory and operation of its showroom have remained suspended since March 26.
It is learnt, the showroom has been reopened on a limited scale following the health regulations.
Saidur Rahman, manager of the showroom, said though the showroom was opened, there was a very small number of customers and sale was very poor also.
In this regard, he said during the Eid last year, there was a sale of goods worth Tk 2 to 2.5 million (Tk 20 to 25 lakh) daily but this year sale came down to Tk 0.5 to 0.7 million daily only before the Eid-ul-Fitr and now after the Eid-ul-Fitr it has reduced to nominal.
Condition of the showrooms of other silk producers in Rajshahi is also same.
Zahirul Islam, manager of Usha Silk Industries, said the silk factories in Rajshahi mainly survive with the bulk sale of silk fabrics during Pahela Baishakh, two Eids and the Durga Puja.
But there was no sale of silk fabric during Pahela Baishakh due to the coronavirus pandemic and there was also a very poor sale during the Eid-ul- Fitr.
It is learnt, the demand of Rajshahi silk was once skyrocketing but now the silk industry here is facing relatively a bad time.
The lockdown due to cornavirus has further caused millions of Taka loss to the industry.
Liakat Ali, president of Bangladesh Reshom Shilpa Malik Samity (Silk Industries Owners' Association), said the silk factories of the country were incurring Tk two billion loss due to the lockdown caused by coronavirus.
He added the silk industry of the country was already on the verge of collapse and some factories were continuing production somehow but the coronavirus has broken their backbones.
He said more than 10,000 labourers are involved with the industry in Chapainawabganj and 5,000 more labourers in Rajshahi are now fully unemployed and their looms being closed, their earnings have also been stopped.
He demanded that the government provide incentives to save the traditional silk industry from ruination.