Textile and garment industry owners said that due to the inadequate supply of gas, the normal manufacturing activities is being hampered in the industry.
Moreover, a number of textile mills are on the verge of shutting down as they are unable to operate even at minimum capacity.
They were speaking at a press conference organised by the Bangladesh Textile Mill Association in the capital on Sunday.
Representatives from Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Bangladesh Terry Towel and Linen Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Leathergoods and Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association of Bangladesh, and Bangladesh Chamber of Industries were also present at the event.
BTMA president Showkat Aziz Russell said that the sector was going through a gas supply shortage for the past few months, and it became severe in the last few weeks.
He also said that the government was reluctant to resolve the crises and the sector was passing through a hard time.
鈥楾he government seems like ostrich, everyone is saying about their problems but they hide their head in the sands,鈥� he added.
He also said that the factories are being strangled to death through anti-industry actions and the working capital has shrunk drastically.
鈥業t seems that we cannot pay wages and festival allowances properly before Eid and we won鈥檛 be able to reopen the factories after Eid,鈥� he added.
He also said that in 1971, intellectuals were systematically targeted and killed. In 2025, the industry and the industrialists are being targeted destroyed, he added.
He also said that the failure to save the industry could lead the country towards famine.
He sought immediate governmental measures to ensure smooth and uninterrupted gas supply to the textile industries of the country.
鈥楾he government has failed to provide adequate gas supply to the industries despite hike in the prices several time and repeated commitments,鈥� he added.
But, the government is now setting a deadline for the factories to pay wages, otherwise, the owners will be arrested, and their houses and cars will be sold, he lamented.
鈥楪overnment should introduce a mid-term strategy and roadmap to resolve the gas and energy issues,鈥� he added.
He also said that there was about 20 per cent system loss in Titas Gas, though the global standard is 1 per cent to 2 per cent.
鈥業f the government take immediate measures to stop system loss, it would be lowered to 7 per cent to 8 per cent,鈥� he added.
BCI president Anwar Ul Alam Chowdhury said that the government committed to provide required mmcf of gas, but they couldn鈥檛 supply.
The government has hiked gas price, interest rates for which factories run only 60 per cent of their capacity.
Jakir Hossain Noyon, member of the assistant committee of the FBCCI, said that government must focus on exploring new gas field to meet the demands.
He also urged the government to start Small Modular Reactor technology for the industry.
BTMA director Rajeev Haidar also urged to drill new gas field.
BTMA vice-president Saleudh Zaman Khan said that if the government did not take proper action, Bangladesh would not see the birth of new entrepreneurs.
鈥業f the government couldn鈥檛 solve the problems by June, a number of factories will shut after the Eid,鈥� he added.
Business leaders from many other trade bodies also spoke at the event.
