The Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) has urged the government to allow garment manufacturers to pay their gas and electricity bills for July and August in 12 equal monthly instalments, citing severe disruptions caused by the ongoing energy crisis.
BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem made the request in a letter sent to Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood on 9 August, seeking immediate intervention and necessary directives.
Hatem disclosed the matter to journalists on Saturday.
According to the letter, acute shortages of gas and electricity severely disrupted production at most industrial units across the country during July and August.
The situation was particularly difficult for factories affected by the suspension of gas supplies through open cylinders or cascade cylinders, leaving many unable to maintain normal production, the trade body said.
Facing the possibility of complete shutdowns, loss of export orders and job insecurity for workers, many factory owners were forced to purchase alternative fuels, including diesel and LPG, by making immediate cash payments.
These additional expenses were not included in their original production cost projections, BKMEA said.
At the same time, factory output fell sharply because of the energy shortage, while production costs increased significantly due to the use of alternative fuels.
As a result, paying the accumulated gas and electricity bills for July and August in a single payment has become a major financial burden for industrial establishments, according to the association.
BKMEA said allowing factories additional time and the option to pay the outstanding bills in instalments would ease the financial pressure and help businesses maintain production and export activities while protecting workers’ jobs.
In his letter, Hatem said a 12-month instalment facility for the July-August utility bills was essential to keep export-oriented industries operational, preserve foreign exchange earnings and safeguard employment.
Copies of the letter were sent to the secretary of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, chairman of Petrobangla, and the managing directors of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution PLC, Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC), Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB) and Dhaka Electricity Supply Company (DESCO).
