Govt eyes Tk22,000cr savings by restarting fertiliser factories: BCIC chairman
Ashuganj fertiliser factory has been shut since March 2025 due to gas shortages, but the corporation hopes to resume production this year if supplies are restored.
The government aims to save Tk22,000 crore in urea import costs by restarting all state-owned fertiliser factories, Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) Chairman Babul Mia has said.
He made the remarks while speaking to journalists after inspecting the Ashuganj Fertiliser Factory in Brahmanbaria today (22 October).
The factory has remained shut since 1 March 2025 due to a gas shortage. However, Babul Mia expressed hope that production could resume this year if an adequate gas supply is ensured.
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"We want to make the BCIC factories operational. We have to import 2.6–2.7 million tonnes of urea fertiliser. If our factories remain operational and receive an adequate gas supply, we will be able to meet domestic demand and even export fertiliser," he said.
He identified the gas shortage as the main obstacle to restarting the factories, adding that the corporation was working to ensure supplies so the plants could resume production.
"If we can restart the factories, we will no longer need to import fertiliser," he said.
Ashuganj Fertiliser Factory Managing Director Sheikh Md Ali Ashraf, Deputy General Manager (Administration) Tajul Islam and other officials were present during the visit.
