The Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) has requested relief from lump-sum payment of July and August gas and electricity bills for the garment sector, citing production disruptions caused by the severe energy crisis. The organization has asked the government to allow factories to pay the two months’ bills in 12 equal monthly installments.
BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem wrote to Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud on the matter. In the letter, dated August 9, he sought the minister’s intervention to issue the necessary directives.
The letter states that production at most industrial factories nationwide was severely disrupted in July and August this year due to the acute gas and electricity crisis. In particular, many factories were unable to maintain normal production because gas supply through open or cascade cylinders to industrial units was suspended.
Fearing that a complete production halt would jeopardize export orders, worker employment, and business continuity, many factories were forced to rely on alternative fuel sources, purchasing diesel, LPG, and other fuels with cash. These additional expenses fell outside factories’ budgeted production costs.
BKMEA said the gas and electricity crisis has both reduced production and significantly increased production costs due to reliance on alternative fuels. As a result, paying the large gas and electricity bills for this period in a lump sum will be difficult for industrial enterprises.
The association said allowing additional time to pay the bills would help ease the financial strain on factories, enabling them to keep production and exports running while protecting worker employment.
In the letter, Mohammad Hatem said that to keep exports running, maintain the continuity of foreign currency earnings, and protect worker employment, it is necessary to allow the July and August gas and electricity bills to be paid in 12 equal monthly installments.
BKMEA has requested the minister direct the relevant departments and agencies accordingly.
Copies of the letter were also sent to the Secretary of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, the Chairman of Petrobangla, the Managing Director of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution PLC, and the Managing Directors of Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC), the Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board, and Dhaka Electric Supply Company (DESCO).
Industry entrepreneurs fear that if the financial burden of larger bills is added to the ongoing energy crisis, the situation could become even more difficult for many enterprises. BKMEA believes that offering installment options during the crisis period would make it easier to keep factories operating and sustain export earnings.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report