Al Amin :
Natural gas supply to the industrial units will remain suspended for four hours from today for the next fifteen days to ensure uninterrupted power supply during the holy month of Ramzan.
“Industrial consumers have been requested to cease consuming natural gas for four hours daily from 5pm to 9pm for the next 15 days starting from Tuesday to implement the government’s gas rationing plan for industries. Vigilance teams of Petrobangla will monitor the execution of gas rationing, according to a Petrobangla press release issued Monday.
Meanwhile, the country’s textile and clothing sector entrepreneurs have sounded the alarm over the government move saying that it will force industrial units to cartel a significant portion of their production and hamper apparel exports as the raw materials supply chain would be disrupted severely by the move.
The suspension will eat up shipment time and they may lose buyers’ confidence, they added.
In the circular, Petrobangla said, “The industrial users are highly requested to stop use of gas from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM (four hours) for the next fifteen days to ensure uninterrupted power supply during ‘Iftar’ and ‘Tarabi’ timings during the holy month of Ramzan.”
“The vigilance teams of the gas distribution company will monitor regularly and the Petrobangla has apologized for such temporary inconvenience to the industrial customers,” it added.
Mohammad Ali Khokon, Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), told The New Nation on Monday, “No doubt, the decision will hamper textile production. But, the country’s interest, we will not use gas during the mentioned time.”
About the approximate loss, he said, “We haven’t yet calculated the probable losses as the government has issued the order on Monday. Hopefully, we will get the approximate amount of losses by Tuesday.”
Mohammad Hatem, Executive President of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) said, “Production in dying and knitting section will remain close down at least 10-12 hours every day, which will hamper export growth.”
“Knit factories procure around 85 per cent raw materials from the domestic spinning mills. Supply of raw materials will be hampered severely for the production loss of dying and knitting Factories. As a result, many knitwear exporters are likely to miss shipment schedule,” Hatem said.
“Besides, the many workers of the RMG sector used to earn extra money by doing overtime before Eid. But they will not be able to do so this time,” he said.
“Moreover, Bangladesh may miss a great chance of taking advantage from political and economic turmoil in different competitive countries for losing buyers’ confidence for delay shipment,” he said.
“Fabric wastage will be increased in dying section and at least 30 to 40 per cent production will be reduced for gas supply suspension,” Fazle Shamim Ehsan, Senior Vice President of the BKMEA, said.
Mohiuddin Rubel, Director of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said, “The raw material supply chain at the export-oriented apparel factories will be affected seriously due to gas rationing to the industrial units. Therefore, the factories will be unable to use their full capacities, though they are overwhelmed with excessive orders.
As a result, they will face financial losses.
