Industries in Dhaka, Gazipur and Narayanganj continue to be afflicted by an acute gas crisis, even though Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company, the state-owned distributor of natural gas, claims the situation has improved. As reported in the media previously, garments and textiles firms in the industrial belt of these central districts have been suffering from an acute gas crisis for the last few months. “The factories are in dire straits,” a top top-level manager of a group of textile factories in Gazipur told UNB. Most of the industries in Gazipur do not get adequate supply of gas during their operational periods, the most crucial hours during which their machines need to be running. Inadequate supply manifests in the form of low pressure gas flow, he added. FBCCI urges for strengthening oil, gas exploration to ensure uninterrupted supply to industries Low pressure gas flow is akin to low voltage electricity - many appliances won't run, even though an electric charge is present. The textiles group official said that due to the lack of gas supply, production in various factories is being disrupted and they are on the verge of shutting down. In the ongoing gas crisis, important machines like generators and broilers in the dyeing section of the factories are not being run. This has been posing a great risk for the industries to continue their production and pushing them towards huge financial losses. “Many industries would not be able to pay the salaries and festival bonuses during the coming Eid if the situation does not improve,” said an industry owner. Industry insiders said there are more than 300 factories in Kaliakoir and other areas in Gazipur. All these industries have been suffering from the nagging gas crisis and some of them have already suspended their productions. 100% percent prepaid gas meters within four years: Nasrul Hamid Each of the industries has more than 1000 workers. But following the gas crisis, they have to reduce their production target while some of them use CNG at a higher cost to continue their operations. A similar situation is prevailing in the Mirpur, Tongi and Narayanganj areas, said Mohammad Hatem, Executive President, of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA). He said that despite increasing the price, the government is not able to provide adequate gas. “Production in garment factories has come down to half due to non-availability of gas. Many buyers meanwhile are pushing for air shipments as the normal schedule for shipments has failed in keeping the commitment,” he said adding, some buyers are asking for discounts on the rates. More gas likely to be found in Sylhet’s Kailashtila field: Nasrul “Some customers are upset and cancel the order in such a situation,” he noted. Recently the Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI) has also alleged that no industry in the country is able to run at its full potential due to the gas crisis. A Bangladesh Chamber Of Industries delegation, led by its president Anwar-ul Alam Chowdhury (Parvez), raised the allegation when it met Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun at his ministry office. The lone chamber for industries said the prices of electricity and gas were increased on the pretext of increasing prices on the international market in the hope that the government would ensure their continuous supply. “But despite the declining trend of energy prices in the international market, it is being heard that the prices of electricity and gas will be increased again,” BCI said in a statement. Read more: Govt okays import of LNG cargo from Singaporean firm to meet gas demand It demands for a sustainable solution to the problem. “If a long term plan is given to the industrial sector in terms of power and gas supply, it can move forward accordingly." Titas Gas general manager Arpana Islam admitted the gas crisis. But she claimed that the situation has improved to some extent recently following measures to increase the gas supply. She advised to talk to Petrobangla when asked whether there is any possibility in near future to further improve the gas supply situation. Petrobangla official statistics reveal that in the last one month the total gas supply across the country has increased by just 100 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) or so, leaving a deficit between production and supply of about 1500 mmcfd. The Petrobangla data shows that on February 16 it produced 2671 mmcfd gas including its import from abroad against a demand for more than 4000 mmcfd. The TItas Gas data also shows that about 30 power plants now remained out of operation due to gas shortage. Read more: BNP denounces move to double monthly rent for prepaid gas meters

AKM Selim Osman, member of Parliament (MP) of Narayanganj, has been elected the president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) Board of Directors for 2021-23 term. He has been elected as the president of BKMEA for the sixth consecutive term. The elected committee was announced on Monday evening. Read: Swisscontact, BKMEA team up to support Covid-hit RMG workers Mohammad Hatem has been elected as the executive president and Mansur Ahmed as the senior vice-president of the 35-member board. Among those elected as vice-presidents are Fazle Shamim Ehsan, Amal Poddar, Gawhar Siraj Jamil, Akhter Hossain Apurbo and Ashikur Rahman. Besides, Morshed Sarwar Sohail has been elected as the Vice President (Finance). Read: Allow Eid holidays for RMG workers in phases: Quader to BGMEA, BKMEA The election board and election appeal board was formed on 14 August. Former Senior Vice President of FBCCI Mohammad Ali was appointed as the chairman of the election board.

Swisscontact and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) have signed an agreement for the economic rehabilitation of readymade garments (RMG) workers amid the pandemic. Sarathi-Progress through Financial Inclusion, a development project of Swisscontact Bangladesh, on Monday signed the agreement with BKMEA to support apparel workers and factories that are still reeling from the disruptions brought about by the pandemic. Through this collaboration, 400 RMG workers will receive a portion of the wage subsidy. Many factories will be forced to partially or entirely stop operation in the coming months if they do not receive more production orders from the international brands. This will result in more layoffs in the apparel sector. Also read: Swisscontact, BKMEA team up to support Covid-hit RMG workers So, Sarathi will collaborate with BKMEA to identify small and medium RMG factories, who are struggling to receive production orders amid the pandemic.  And BKMEA will help Sarathi identify the struggling factories based on specific selection criteria and grant them partial wage subsidy, enabling them to retain their entire workforce. BKMEA Vice-President Mohammad Hatem and Sarathi Team Leader Syeda Ishrat Fatema signed the agreement. Also read: RMG worker ‘gang raped’ in Gazipur   To date, Sarathi has engaged four commercial banks to digitise the wage payment system of 49 RMG factories; and through its interventions, 76,000 RMG workers are receiving their salaries in their bank accounts and have access to banking products and services. Also, 17,000 RMG workers have received financial literacy training and 200,000 people were reached through mass awareness campaigns conducted by Sarathi.

Road, Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Saturday urged Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association ( BKMEA) to issue Eid-ul-Azha holidays to readymade garment workers in phases.   He made this call in an online briefing from his official residence.   Quader also hoped that garment owners will set an example this time by paying workers’ salaries before Eid.