After nearly two months, industries in Narsingdi are beginning to see relief as gas pressure increases, with supply also improving for residential connections and CNG pumps.
Titas Gas authorities said 40 pounds per square inch (PSI) of gas is being supplied against a demand of 50 PSI. Industrialists and gas authorities expressed hope that gas supply would fully normalise within a day or two.
Industrialists and workers said the crisis became acute across the district after a fire on 21 July damaged Moheshkhali LNG terminal in Cox’s Bazar, affecting Narsingdi and several other districts.
With efforts of the authorities concerned, gas supply returned to capacity on the national grid from Tuesday.
As pipeline pressure increased, gas-dependent boilers are gradually returning to normal, boosting production in Narsingdi’s factories. CNG pumps and households also saw some relief.
Factory workers said prolonged production disruption had caused financial losses for owners, affecting workers. From Tuesday evening, gas-dependent factories returned to production as pressure increased.
Md Rafi, a textile worker at Chouyala industrial area, said, “We work on a production basis. Production stopped in gas-dependent factories, causing us losses. If gas supply becomes fully normal, owners and workers will all be better off.”
Another worker, Rafiq Mia, said workers had fallen into debt due to halted production, and owners had suffered extensive losses. “Gas must be ensured to save the industry. The rate at which gas supply has increased is not satisfactory. I do not know when the gas crisis will fully end,” he said.
Rashedul Hasan Rintu, president of the Narsingdi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said there are 323 registered gas-dependent factories in the district.
Due to inadequate gas pressure, productions in textile, dyeing, spinning and sizing mills in Chowala, Madhabdi and Shekherchar industrial areas of Narsingdi city were severely disrupted.
With increased gas supply, factories that were closed or operating at limited capacity are expected to return to normal production. “We are hopeful the situation will improve 100 per cent soon,” he said.
Abdullah Al Mamun, spokesperson for the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association and director of Abed Textile, said Narsingdi’s economy is largely industry-based alongside agriculture, involving the employment of lakhs of workers. Gas supply has begun normalising, which will help normalise production here and across the country.”
Md Maksudur Rahman, manager of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Ltd, Narsingdi, said gas supply to industries, CNG pumps and households in Narsingdi has improved due to increased supply to the national grid.
Gas pressure in Narsingdi’s industrial areas is gradually increasing. “If gas is supplied at 50 PSI within a day or two, all situations will fully normalise,” he said.
