BKMEA demands nonstop gas supply to N'ganj units

The Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) demanded uninterrupted gas supply to factories in Narayanganj as they face difficulties in meeting lead time for poor gas supply.
The trade body also apprehended that the supply chain might collapse with deterioration in labour situation if the gas supply has not improved immediately.
It also urged the government to provide gas to the industrial belt of Narayanganj by reducing additional supply to power plants and fertiliser factories.
On November 05, BKMEA president AKM Salim Osman made the plea in a letter to state minister for power, energy and mineral resources Nasrul Hamid.
About Tk 25 billion goods shipped to the world monthly from some 147 dyeing and 420 knit factories located in Narayanganj, he said.
Gas supply has reached almost 'zero' PSI since October 16, according to Mr Osman.
Later, the supply increased to 3.0-4.0 PSI on November 10 after the trade body raised the issue at a meeting at the PMO, read the letter.
"But a day after November 11, gas supply returned to previous zero PSI to date," the BKMEA president said in the letter.
As a result, factories could not produce goods against their work orders and meet lead time, he continued, saying: "Many factories couldn't pay wages for the month of November."
It has become impossible for many factories to run on costly diesel, he said, adding that a factory needs to pay Tk 0.3-1.5 million daily as per its size.
"Consequently, production has been hampering while there is possibility of labour unrest," the BKMEA president said.
Citing recent labour unrest in Dhaka and Gazipur over wage hike, he said, citing no such labour movement in Narayanganj.
But the current poor supply has created a risky situation in the labour-intensive Narayanganj industrial zone, according to Mr Osman.
He demanded immediate measures to ensure smooth gas supply to avoid any untoward situation.

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