Production across small, medium, and large industrial facilities including garments, textiles, and plastics has been severely disrupted due to acute gas and electricity supply shortages nationwide.
Facing immense financial strain, the Chattogram Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), one of the nation’s premier trade bodies, has sought urgent intervention from the government and banking sector to safeguard the manufacturing industry and keep operations afloat.
In two separate letters issued on Saturday (August 8), CCCI President Mohammed Amirul Haque appealed directly to Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Iqbal Hassan Mahmood and Minister for Finance and Planning Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury.
90-day utility moratorium & fine waiver
In his letter to the Energy Minister, the CCCI President highlighted that unexpected power and gas shortages have forced several factories to halt operations or enter unwritten “lay-offs”. With revenues plummeting, factory owners are struggling to cover basic operational expenses, utility bills, and worker wages.
To grant manufacturers room to recover, the Chattogram Chamber submitted the following demands to the government:
No Disconnections: A guarantee that no factory’s gas or power connection will be severed over the next six months. Payment Moratorium: Temporary suspension of standard month-to-month billing cycles to allow a 90-day (3-month) grace period for bill payments without incurring late penalties.
Three-month freeze on loan installments & interest waiver
In a separate dispatch to the Finance Minister, Haque warned that forcing businesses to service high-interest bank debt during an uncontrolled crisis acts as a “deadly blow” to industrial owners. He noted that failing to act could undermine the country’s business-friendly image and deter both foreign and domestic investment.
To protect export-oriented sectors and broader manufacturing industries, the CCCI urged the Ministry of Finance to: Freeze Installments: Suspend all bank loan installment payments for three months to cushion current financial losses. Waive Interest: Instruct Bangladesh Bank and commercial lenders to grant a complete interest waiver for the same period.
Acknowledging government efforts
While pressing for relief, the CCCI expressed appreciation for the Power and Energy Minister’s recent proactive steps, which have helped temporarily stabilize energy supply conditions.
However, business leaders stressed that a long-term financial recovery requires synchronized, flexible policy support from both the Energy and Finance ministries.
Providing immediate relief on utility bills and banking obligations, the Chamber asserted, will be vital to preserving uninterrupted production and sustaining national economic momentum.
