United News of Bangladesh

Industries, Commerce, and Textiles and Jute Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir on Monday said the government is moving ahead with a coordinated and timely action plan to revive the country’s industrial sector, stabilise markets and ensure uninterrupted supply of essential commodities. “Reviving sick and closed industries to boost production and employment remains one of the government’s top priorities,” he said while talking to journalists after the fourth session of the second day of the Deputy Commissioners’ (DCs) Conference at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital. The minister said the process of gradually handing over around 50 closed and loss-making textile and jute mills to the private sector is underway. “This initiative will attract new investment, increase production and create large-scale employment opportunities,” he said, adding that the process is expected to be completed within a year. Referring to proposals from deputy commissioners, Muktadir said they presented practical suggestions based on local realities, including industrial revival, development of new industrial zones, reopening of closed sugar mills and establishment of distilleries to enhance export potential. “The government will give due consideration to these proposals,” he added. Emphasising structural reforms in market management, the minister said the government is planning to introduce an AI-based supply chain monitoring system to reduce price gaps from producers to retail levels. “This system will enable close monitoring of imports, stock, wholesale and retail stages, ensuring transparency and accountability in the market,” he said. A strategic reserve for import-dependent goods is being developed to face the situation in case of any global market volatility, Muktadir said, adding that this will help prevent shortages and maintain price stability even during international supply disruptions. Regarding the activities of the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), he said a strong advisory council will be formed, comprising experts from both public and private sectors. “This will make TCB’s market interventions more effective, timely and targeted,” he said. Ahead of upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, the minister outlined a special plan for proper preservation of raw hide, saying efforts are underway to ensure that no hide goes to waste. Training will be provided through district and upazila administrations to mosque and madrasah stakeholders, he said. Government-supplied salt, awareness leaflets and media campaigns will also be used, he said, adding that transport of hides will be regulated for seven days after Eid to ensure local preservation. Stressing stronger roles of district administration in maintaining market stability, Muktadir said, “The administration and elected government will work together to keep supply chains active and protect consumer interests. This is our commitment.”

The government has decided to reopen sick and closed industrial units in the country involving private entrepreneurs in a move aimed at creating employment. “The Prime Minister has directed the ministries concerned to take steps to reopen the sick and closed industrial units,” Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon said on Tuesday. He said the initiative will be implemented in collaboration with private entrepreneurs so that new employment opportunities can be created. Abducted schoolboy freed within an hour after PM Tarique’s intervention Reopening sick and closed industrial units to generate jobs was one of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s election pledges. According to the directive, sick and closed jute mills and sugar mills will be reopened, keeping former workers in their jobs while also creating new employment opportunities. Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Ashik Chowdhury said the Prime Minister has given a clear instruction to create new jobs and take initiatives to reopen the closed and sick industrial units. He said a committee, led by the Ministry of Industries, has already started work in this regard.

The government of Bangladesh has raised the retail gas prices for public, private and captive power plants and also for industries and commercial users with effect from February 1. As per the new government announcement on Wednesday (January 18, 2023), the gas prices have been increased by almost three times for public and private power plants while almost double for captive power plants and industries, and significantly hiked for commercial users. However, prices for household consumers, CNG-run for motor vehicles and tea estates were kept unchanged.   Read more: BERC (amendment) Ordinance placed in JS allowing adjustment of gas, electricity prices without public hearing The Energy and Mineral Resources Division set the prices through a gazette notification issued on Wednesday applying the new amendment to the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) Act, which empowered the government to set all kinds of energy prices bypassing the regulator’s jurisdictions at any time. As per the gazette notification, the public and private power plants including the IPP and rental power plants will pay gas price at Tk 14 per unit (each cubic metre) instead of previous price of Tk 5.02 while the captive power plants, small power plants and commercial power plants will pay Tk 30 per unit instead of previous price of Tk 16. The large, medium and small industries will pay Tk 30 per unit against the previous price of Tk 11.98 for large, Tk11.78 for medium and Tk 10.78 for small, cottage and other industries. Read more: Pay production cost to get smooth supply of gas, electricity: PM Hasina tells industries The commercial users of gas like hotels and restaurants will pay Tk 30.50 instead of previous Tk 26.64 per unit.   The household consumers will continue to pay Tk 18 per unit for metered burners while Tk 990 for single burners and Tk 1080 for double burners each month. The CNG price remained unchanged at Tk 43 for the motor vehicles, while tea estates will pay Tk 11.93 per unit as usual, said the gazette notification. Read More: New gas found in Bhola field amid crisis Earlier, the BERC had raised the average gas price by 22.78 percent for the retail consumers, except for CNG-run vehicles, in the country with effect back from June 1 in 2022.

Salman F. Rahman, adviser on the private sector to the Prime Minister and one of the country's leading businessmen, has said all export-oriented industries should get similar facilities to meet the objective of export diversification. Salman, also a first-time MP, was speaking as the chief guest at a webinar organized by the think-tank Policy Research Institute (PRI) on improving export trade facilities. The Prime Minister's private industry and investment adviser admitted that there is a problem with bureaucracy. Although the bureaucratic mentality in the administration has changed at the highest level, at the ground level it still remains the same. Every export-oriented sector can be improved if the bureaucratic complexities are reformed, he said. Read: Austerity reducing imports to $6 billion a month: Salman F. Rahman “I always say that everything was confined to high-level bureaucracy earlier. But now the problem has been reduced. There is a positive mental change at the highest levels of the bureaucracy. However, problems remain at the lower level and field level,” said Salman. The National Board of Revenue (NBR) and Commerce Ministry are working on these challenges to improve the business environment, he said. "We have to change the mindset of the bureaucracy at the field level. We all have to think about the geopolitical situation, how it is affecting the supply chain,” he added. Read Uniform rate: Tk 108/dollar max for remittance, Tk 99/dollar for export income from tomorrow Salman also focused on increasing the capacity of ports for increasing export opportunities. He said, “The capacity of Chittagong Port will be further increased. It is being worked on. Work is underway on the proposed deep sea port in the Matarbari area of Cox's Bazar district. It will be constructed as a full-fledged commercial port by expanding the coal-carrying jetty.” Once these are done, exports can be further increased, he said. State Minister for Planning Shamsul Alam also participated in the webinar. PRI Executive Director Ahsan H. Mansur, Chairman Dr Zaidi Sattar, Policy Exchange Chairman Dr M Masrur Riaz, IFC Manager Selma Rasavac, NBR Member (Customs Audit) Dr Abdul Mannan Sikder, Additional commerce secretary Hafizur Rahman, former president of BKMEA Fazlul Haque, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank Enamul Hoque, Country Manager of IFC Martin Holtmann among others, also joined the program. Read Govt served legal notice to ban Hilsa export to India in 7 days

Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI) has tied up with SME Foundation to jointly work towards development and capacity building of the small and medium enterprises across the country. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the two organizations at a function at the SME Foundation office at Agargaon on Thursday. BCI president Anwar-ul Alam Chowdhury (Parvez) and SME Foundation managing director Dr Md Mofizur Rahman signed the deal on behalf of their respective sides. SME Foundation Chairperson Dr Md Masudur Rahman was present on the occasion. Also read: BCI demands simplification of taxation system Addressing at the function, Anwar-ul Alam Chowdhury said that BCI has been the sole chamber in the country body representing the entire industrial sector. “It has been working towards removing all sorts of bottlenecks against industrialization. BCI has already launched an initiative to create new entrepreneurship, develop micro, small and medium industries and improve the light engineering and agro-based industries. He said the lack of skilled manpower and efficient managers have become the major obstacles in the development of the industrial sectors.  Also read: BCI seeks German GIZ cooperation to create skilled manpower in industrial sector “Most of the new entrepreneurs have to leave their venture within the first 2-3 years because of the lack of efficiency in marketing and due to inadequate financial credit support,” he said adding that the BCI will now provide training to the entrepreneurs to improve their efficiency and capability.  He said the BCI believes that through the partnership with the SME Foundation, it will be possible to raise the contribution of the industrial sector to 60-70 percent to the economy. The Chairperson of SME Foundation said, "We appreciate the initiative of the BCI. Read SME Foundation to hold fair in 6 divisions to promote local products “The partnership between the BCI and SME Foundation can work together to eliminate existing problems in the SME sector with development and capacity building,” he added. This MoU will further accelerate the work of the BCI and SME Foundation in development and capacity building of the small and medium industrial sector, he hoped. BCI director Nazmul Anwar, secretary general Dr Ordhendu Shekhar Roy and Deputy Management of SME Foundation Salahuddin Mahmud, Md Nazim Hasan Sattar, general Manager Farzana Khan and other officials of both sides were present on the occasion. Read SME Foundation disburses Tk300 crore stimulus loans to 3,106 entrepreneurs

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has said that industries across the country will remain closed one day a week under a fresh area-based load shedding plan.Under a staggering programme an area-based factory holidays will be maintained to minimise consumption of both natural gas and electricity.He made the announcement after a meeting with business leaders at Bidyut Bhaban in the city on Sunday.The rationing system will help saving around 500-550 MW of electricity, he said.The government earlier on April 12 had imposed a four hour gas rationing for industries across the country from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm daily to save natural gas. Read: Rangamati admin sets new octane-run autorickshaw fares considering price hike Although initial decision was to continue gas rationing for 15 days, the government backed down and withdrew it after 10 days of its execution amid protests from business enterprises.During the meeting Nasrul said that the countrywide load-shedding will ease in September.“Load-shedding can come down to half from the current level in September and the country may get rid of load-shedding from October,” he added.During the meeting the business leaders requested to provide uninterrupted electricity supply and keep the captive power plants outside the purview of tariff hike.Senior vice president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Mostafa Azad Chowdhury Babu, acting president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Shahid Ullah Azim were among the top business leaders took part in the meeting.Under an ongoing austerity measure all the diesel-fired power plants are now shut and load-shedding is being implemented officially from July 19 to reduce diesel imports and save foreign currency.Although area-based load-shedding was scheduled for one hour, it continued for three hours at a time in some city areas across the country, it is alleged.Load-shedding in rural and remote areas, however, stretched for more hours, consumers claim.Markets and shopping malls can now stay open until 8:00 pm.The government also prohibited illumination in different social gatherings in community centers, shopping malls, shops, offices and houses since July 7.

Speakers at a seminar titled: “Strategy Summit 2022: Energy Infrastructure” said that the liquified petroleum gas (LPG) has a lot of potential to be used as energy for industries.“As the locally supplied natural gas has very low pressure, the LPG can be used as alternative fuel,” said Tanzeem Chowdhury, chief executive officer of Omera LPG.Valor of Bangladesh organised the strategy summit at a city hotel on Saturday.The seminar was also addressed by Alamgir Morshed, CEO of Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL), Humayun Rashid, managing director of Energypac and research director of Centre for Policy Duologue (CPD) Dr Khandaker Golam Moazzem.At this stage, Tanzeem Chowdhury said, the only alternative ready for industries is LPG.Explaining the global and local energy situation, he said the Russia-Ukraine war has pushed up the energy price worldwide. Read: Hamid looking to send load shedding back to museum by August-endCurrently the price of LNG is $40 perMMBtu while the government is providing gas to the industries at $3 per MMBtu where the cost is covered by a huge subsidy.But LPG is being imported by the private sector at $22 per MMBtu, he said, adding that LPG can be used for power boilers, for heaters, and for some power generators as well.He said LPG is very competitive with LNG and it is the most viable option for industries.Dr Golam Moazzem said the cost and reliability of any energy is the major factor for competitiveness.He said that the capacity payment has been the major challenge for the government due to its unplanned implementation of power projects.Humayun Rashid said the country’s biggest challenge in the power and energy sector is the synchronisation of the power plants with power transmission lines.Many power plants are ready to generate electricity, but their transmission line is not ready, he observed.

Gas supply to industries will remain suspended for four hours from 5 to 9 pm every day for 15 days from Tuesday. State-owned Petrobangla issued this directive on Monday saying that all industries are requested to abide by the order on the occasion of Holy Ramadan. Regretting for the temporary inconvenience, the Petrobangla said that the vigilance teams of the gas distribution companies will monitor the issue. Also read: Gas crisis: 2,950 MMCFD LNG-carrying cargo vessel arrive at Ctg port Earlier, the Petrobangla had instructed all the CNG refueling stations to keep those closed for six hours from 5 to 11 pm every day during the Holy Ramadan to facilitate gas supply to household consumers and power plants. Such directives came against the backdrop of the nagging gas crisis as consumers in many areas have been complaining that they are not getting gas supply during Ramadan for their cooking. In the meantime, the gas supply experienced a drastic fall on April 3, on the very first day of Ramadan fallowing a technical fault at the Bibiyana gas field, the largest gas field in the country. Also read: Gas crisis likely to end as Bibiyana resumes full production After 5 days, the fault was repaired and Bibiyana resumed full production on April 7, but still consumers in many areas in and outside the capital Dhaka are alleging that they are suffering from gas crisis. The situation forced Petrobangla to issue new order to keep the gas supply suspended for four hours a day to the industries for next 15 days.

Business leaders  on Thursday requested the government to reopen garment factories and other industries amid the countrywide stringent lockdown. BGMEA President Farooq Hasan disclosed the information to the reporters after a meeting with Cabinet Secretary Khandaker Anwarul Islam at the Secretariat. Read: Farhad warns legal action if factories found open amid lockdown "We have requested the government to reopen industries. The cabinet secretary will take a quick decision after talking to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” he said. He hoped that the government will consider their request. Read: Export oriented factories to remain open amid 'strict lockdown' The government reinforced 14-day strict lockdown restrictions following Eid vacation till August 5. Unlike the all out restrictions before Eid, mills and factories were instructed to remain closed during this time. There are speculations that the government might extend the lockdown as the Covid infections are at its peak  shattering records of highest single day transmissions and deaths every other day.

Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Affairs Adviser Salman F Rahman on Tuesday said like Accord and Alliance in the RMG sector, a body would be formed for the domestic industries to ensure that they strictly follow compliance standards while the government would extend long-term financing and loans for becoming compliant. He also said that the factories of those industries which fail to be complaint would not be able to sell their products in the domestic market in future. Salman said these at a webinar tilted ‘Reviving the Leather Sector in the Aftermath of COVID-19’ as the chief guest jointly organized by the Economic Reporters’ Forum (ERF), Research Policy Integration for Development (RAPID) and The Asia Foundation (TAF) held through Zoom platform. Speakers at the webinar stressed the need for ensuring compliance in the local industries, especially in the leather sector, to become more competitive. They also stressed the need for forming a task force to look at the recommendations from different stakeholders and work on the betterment of the leather sector as well as improving rawhide management in an integrated way. They also advocated for modernizing and making more functional the Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) in the Savar Leather Village through addressing its loopholes, improving solid waste management, addressing the environmental and labour rights issues in this sector and thus manufacturing quality products and providing the same facilities to all other sectors that the RMG sector is now enjoying. Former Advisor to the Caretaker Government Syed Manzur Elahi joined the session as the guest of honor. Commerce Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh, Chairman, BFLLFEA Mohiuddin Ahmed Mahin and Chairman, BTA Md Shaheen Ahamed joined it as the special guests. Professor & Director, ILET, DU Dr. M Mizanur Rahman, Managing Director, DTIEWTPCL (TIED) Brig. Gen. M Zahid Hasan and The President, Tannery Workers’ Union Abul Kalam Azad attended the webinar as panel discussants. Managing Director of Apex Footwear LtdSyed Nasim Manzur, Chairman of RAPID Dr. Mohammad Abdur Razzaque and its Executive Director Dr. Abu Eusuf jointly presented the keynote paper. Country Representative, The Asia Foundation Kazi Faisal Bin Seraj delivered the welcome remarks. ERF President Sharmeen Rinvy chaired the event while ERF General Secretary S M Rashidul Islam moderated the event.