Garment, textile bodies seek zonal gas rationing to avert factory shutdowns
Severe disparity in gas distribution leaves major manufacturing hubs under-pressurised, they say,
Highlights:
- 6,500 factories in Titas area face gas shortages
- Trade bodies seek weekly zonal gas rationing
- Titas receives less gas than its approved allocation
- Industry groups demand immediate gas reallocation
- Proposed plan calls for 5 days of full gas supply per zone
- Gas shortages threaten factory operations and export deadlines
Four major trade associations representing Bangladesh's multi-billion-dollar garment and textile export sector have submitted a joint petition to state-owned Gas Transmission Company Limited (GTCL), calling for immediate gas reallocation and a weekly zonal rationing scheme to prevent widespread factory shutdowns.
The joint letter was signed by leaders of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association and the Bangladesh Terry Towel & Linen Manufacturers and Exporters Association.
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The associations said a severe disparity in gas distribution has left major manufacturing hubs under-pressurised, hampering production and putting export deadlines at risk.
"Supplying gas at full pressure to one zone at a time allows factories to operate efficiently on rotation rather than running at substandard productivity every day," Mohammad Hatem, president of BKMEA, told TBS, confirming the letter.
"If GTCL does it, we can make our projection plans efficiently. We won't need to pay wages [to] workers completely idle," he said.
Most textile, garment factories in Titas area
According to data cited in the letter, more than 90% of Bangladesh's textile and garment manufacturing base is concentrated within the Titas Gas franchise area.
The associations said roughly 6,500 textile and garment factories, or 94% of the country's total, fall under the area. These factories employ 1.2 crore workers, or 92% of the sector's workforce, and generate $52 billion in export earnings, the trade bodies said.
An analysis of gas supply over five days, from 5 to 9 September 2026, showed a significant disparity in supply, according to the letter.
Titas accounts for 75.88%, or 1,488 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd), of the national approved industrial and captive gas load, according to the associations.
GTCL is supposed to supply Titas with 980 mmcfd, but its actual daily gas receipt averaged 883.20 mmcfd during the period, according to the letter, leaving a daily shortfall of 96.80 mmcfd.
At the same time, some areas were receiving gas above their allocated levels, the trade bodies said.
Five other regional gas distribution companies received 373.60 mmcfd, exceeding their proportional share by 70.37 mmcfd, according to the letter.
Five-day rotation proposed
The associations proposed dividing major industrial clusters into separate zones, with each zone receiving full gas flow and adequate pressure for five continuous days a week, followed by two days of planned shutdown or limited supply.
They said the rationing schedule should take into account continuous-process plants, boilers, export delivery schedules, labour laws and safety protocols.
The trade bodies also urged GTCL to immediately reallocate excess gas from other distribution zones to the Titas region and ensure adequate line pressure for factory machinery to operate safely and efficiently.
They called for the rapid implementation of a weekly, zone-based rationing schedule across major industrial belts to minimise production disruptions and protect economic activity.
