Staff Reporter :
The industrialists have agreed to keep all factories closed once a week for zone-wise in a view to implement the government’s instruction to save electricity and continue production in mills and factories.
Earlier, the leading business leaders had told journalists that they won’t be able to run their factories due to high prices of oils and shortage of power.
They also said that they had to shut down their production and industrial units for high inflation.
Against this backdrop, the leaders of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) have agreed to keep industrial units shut once a week during a meeting with State Minister for Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid was held in the Secretariat on Sunday.
“The business leaders have agreed to shut their industries once a week to save electricity. The country will be able to save 490 megawatts of electricity every day if the weekly zone-wise shutdown of industrial units is implemented,” Nasrul Hamid told reporters after the meeting.
However, Hamid could not give guarantee that the zone-wise shutdown will help in reducing load-shedding, but he hopped that load shedding to be halved from September.
The State Minister said for instance, the industrial units in Savar area will remain closed on Monday and the one in Ashulia on Sunday.
He also said that it will be possible to provide uninterrupted power supply across the country from October.
“The demand for power will come down by October with the advent of winter season in the country. So, the problem of load shedding will be resolved,” explained the state minister.
He said the rationing system for industrial operation will save 500-550 megawatts of electricity a day.
“The weekly zone wise shut down of factories was in place from earlier. But we did not follow this for many years. From now, we will follow this instruction as the government is trying to save electricity,” said Fazlee Shamim Ehsan, BKMEA vice-president.
At the meeting, Ehsan asked the state minister whether load-shedding will improve if the zone wise weekly shut down is strictly followed.
Earlier on 18 July, the government announced one-hour load shedding accross the country as part of an austerity measures to reduce foreign currency spending by limiting energy consumption.
The government also halted electricity production at all diesel-run power plants and directed closure of shops and markets by 8pm daily.
