BGMEA demands withdrawal of factory gas rationing 

Dressmakers' apex body BGMEA has demanded the withdrawal of the government's decision to ration gas to factories.

"The export-oriented industrial sector, including the garment industry, will face extreme losses due to the decision of gas rationing. It is a suicidal step for the national economy," said a Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association press release on Tuesday.

The Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Resources Corporation (Petrobangla) in a circular on Monday asked factories to stop using gas for four hours every day from 5 pm to 9 pm till 26 April starting Tuesday.

BGMEA Vice President Syed Nazrul Islam said, "The decision to stop using gas for four hours a day would severely disrupt manufacturing in various industries, including the garment industry. This will disrupt exports. Consequently, paying salaries and allowances to workers before and after Eid-ul-Fitr would be difficult which might lead to chaos in the sector, including labour unrest."

A large number of new export orders, including orders placed during the pandemic, and cancelled orders, are currently pending in the garment industry of Bangladesh. Due to the obligation to ship within the stipulated time as per buyer requirements, all who are engaged in the ready-made garment industry are busy with rapid production output before Eid-ul-Fitr, the press release added.

The decision to stop industrial consumers using gas will pose a serious impediment to the garment industry's turnaround. The goodwill of Bangladesh's export trade with foreign buyers will also face a negative impact.