Staff Reporter :
Production at the Narayanganj knitwear factories came down significantly due to ongoing gas crisis there, said BKMEA President AKM Selim Osman, MP on Saturday.
He came up with the disclosure at the publication ceremony of “Global Buyers Information Directory” at a city hotel.
The program was organized by Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers’ and Exporters’ Association (BKMEA).”The knitwear industrial belt at Narayanganj is now facing an acute gas crisis affecting 40 per cent production of the industrial zone,” said Selim Osman.
He said, the industry is a major contributor of the country’s export basket and export from this sector is increasing every year.
“The ongoing energy crisis forced the industry to suffer production losses significantly passing its burden on the entrepreneurs. And if the crisis could not be solved immediately, it will leave an adverse impact on our export,” he warned. The BKMEA leader mentioned that their export has increased last fiscal year and by this time they have also been able to diversify export markets. “Our new market has been created in Russia, Japan and Malaysia. In future our new market will be created in Korea also” he added. He further said when the industry need to boost its production to cope with the increased global demands, at that time, the gas crisis is going to hit the sector badly fading the hope of exploring new market.
So, I urged the government to ensure uninterrupted supply of gas and electricity to the knitwear industries to maintain smooth production and shipment of this sector, he added. Knitwear industry is a vital sub-sector of the country’s ready-made garments industry. The exporters have already set up more that 2000 knit factories mostly located in Narayanganj employing near about 7.0 lakh workers there.
Selim Osman also urged the government to set up a fire station and hospital considering safety and security and healthcare service to the industrial workers.
Mujibul Haque Chunnu, State Minister for Labour and Employment, law-maker Shamim Osman, were present, among others, at the function.
