BKMEA seeks gas cut for vehicles to improve supply to industries
The association also called for weekly government briefings on the gas situation, saying industrialists are “in the dark” about the crisis and are being exposed to rumours and conflicting information.
BKMEA demands:
- Stop gas supplies to vehicles except public transport
- Take action against illegal residential gas connections
- Gas lines not be disconnected upon failure to pay gas bill
- 12-month installment facility for bill payment for June, July
- Weekly government briefings on the gas situation
- Provide clear govt instructions to industries on how to operate during crisis
The Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) has called for suspending gas supplies to vehicles other than public transport as part of a six-point demand to tackle the prolonged gas crisis disrupting the knitwear industry.
BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem made the demands at a discussion on "What to do amid the gas crisis and production disruptions in the knitwear industry" held at the association's permanent office in Chashara, Narayanganj, today (22 August).
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Hatem said the gas crisis began around 20 July and has continued for nearly a month, leaving some factories unable to operate.
"Our Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources assured us that the situation would return to normal from 10 August. Gas was supplied for two days, and then the situation deteriorated again," he said.
The prolonged disruption is preventing manufacturers from shipping export orders on time, while some buyers have already shifted orders elsewhere, he said.
"Many orders are going elsewhere. Buyers are also concerned about whether we will be able to deliver the orders they have placed on time. As a result, they have shifted some orders for the next season elsewhere," Hatem said.
Among BKMEA's demands are stopping gas supplies to vehicles other than public transport, taking strict action against illegal residential gas connections, and providing clear government instructions to industries on how to operate during the crisis.
The association also called for weekly government briefings on the gas situation, saying industrialists are "in the dark" about the crisis and are being exposed to rumours and conflicting information.
BKMEA also demanded that gas lines of industrial establishments not be disconnected if they fail to pay their gas bills because of the crisis.
Hatem urged the government to take strict action against illegal residential connections, saying Titas Gas reports system losses of 8%-10%. He said this indicates that a significant amount of gas is being lost, including through illegal connections.
He further requested Bangladesh Bank not to classify affected industrial borrowers as loan defaulters if they fail to repay loans because of the impact of the gas crisis.
BKMEA also sought a 12-month installment facility for the payment of gas and electricity bills for June and July, citing mounting pressure on factories to pay workers.
"We cannot pay workers' wages because of the gas crisis. There should be an arrangement to allow us to pay the June-July gas and electricity bills in installments over the next 12 months," Hatem said.
Former BGMEA president Kazi Moniruzzaman, BKMEA Executive President Fazle Shamim Ehsan, Vice President Morshed Sarwar Sohel and Vice President Ashiqur Rahman, among others, attended the meeting.
