Gas supply restored in Ctg, letter withdrawn

Our Correspondent CHITTAGONG, Oct 27: The letter on gas staggering in the industries in Chittagong issued by Karnafuli Gas Distribution Company has been withdrawn following strong protest by the entrepreneurs. The decision came from a meeting between the managing director (MD) of the KGDC engineer Sanwar Hossain and directors of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry this evening. The gas distribution company issued a letter to the local re-rolling mills, steel plants and gas-generated power plants in Chittagong at 8.30 pm on Wednesday regarding cut-off in gas lines and executed the same from 11.00 pm on the day to feed the CUFL and KAFCO with gas. Local entrepreneurs expressed grave concern at the snatching of gas line from all other industries to feed the fertilizer factory mainly the CUFL in their meeting with Director General (DG) of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) during the roundtable meeting at the CCCI auditorium today. They said all re-rolling mills, paper mills and gas-fed power plants shut down abruptly leaving investment worth billions of taka and thousands of workers employed there in uncertain future. They termed it a conspiracy of the vested quarters in the government against Chittagong, the commercial hub of the country, because rest of the country has remained undisturbed of gas supply. KGDC authority said the decision was taken following short supply of gas from the national grid. He agreed with the views of the trade body leaders and expressed sorrow for issuing the letter. "The decision has been withdrawn following consultation with the government high-ups in Dhaka," he said. He further said that gas crisis will partly go when the supply from Semutang will start by November 20-22 to the Chittagong industries. The meeting was addressed by MA Latif MP, DG of the PMO Nazmul Islam, CCCI president Morshed Murad Ibrahim, senior vice president Mahbubul Alam, director MA Salam, Mazharul Huq Chowdhury, Mazharul Huq Shah, Emdadul Huq Chowdhury, Shahin Alam, Captain Shafi Chaudhury, Ohid Siraj Chowdhury, Zahurul Alam, Zahed Hossain Meah, Morshed Arif Chowdhury and Afsar Hasan Chowdhury.