The industrialists of the Dhaka Export Processing Zone urged the government to resolute the existing electricity issues as soon as possible as it may hinder the country鈥檚 businesses.
They are also skeptical about the stability of the electricity supply by the Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board as an alternative to the halted captive power.
Earlier, the state-owned Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company suspended the gas supply to the 86MW power plant, owned by the United Power, a private company, which owes Tk聽478 crore to the Titas in unpaid bills.
There are about 90 factories in the DEPZ, which dependent on the supply of the electricity by United Power.
After the suspension, DEPZ authorities started to provide electricity through BREB.
Shams Mahmud, managing director of the Shasha Denims, told 抖阴精品 that they are skeptical about the stability of the electricity supplied by the Dhaka Palli Bidyut Samiti-1.
鈥楾heir electricity frequently ups and downs. We think the solution is not sustainable for the industry. Government should resolve the issue immediately,鈥� he said.
鈥榃e urge the government to sit with the power supplier, provide them a strict timeframe to streamline the issues,鈥� he added.
He also said that the RMG sector is suffering from the issues like gas shortage, US tariff and others. At this moment the DEPZ issues put a further pressure.
Requesting anonymity, an official of the Titas Gas said that as the power company lost the case, they have to pay the overdue amount.
鈥業f they clear the dues, the gas supply will be normal. We are here only to manage the seamless distribution. This type of decision directly comes from higher authority,鈥� he added.
Rezwan Selim, another DEPZ investor, said that they have already learned that the BREB鈥簊 electricity supply may shut on Tuesday (May 6).
鈥楳oreover, along with gas pressure crisis, a severe water crisis also emerged here,鈥� he added.
He urged the government to resolve the issues as soon as possible to keep uninterrupted manufacturing activities.
Md Shariful Islam, executive director of DEPZ, told 抖阴精品 that the matter is fully dependent on Titas Gas and United Power.
鈥楨PZ investors are sufferer of their issues. The BREB has started supplying electricity, and so far it is uninterrupted. But we have to wait some days to say about their sustainability,鈥� he added.
Meanwhile, according to some local sources, due to the diversion of the BREB electricity to the DEPZ, the load shedding has increased in the surrounding area.
According to the Titas Gas, the unpaid bills accumulated over the years. After sending numerous letters, requests and warnings, they had to come to the decision of suspending the gas connection on April 29.
The United Power had been operating as a commercial independent power producer, a special categorisation enjoyed by none other than the company, selling its power to factories at the DEPZ, the national grid and private clients.
Meanwhile, according to the Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Ltd, United Power has also an outstanding overdue.
Md Salauddin, managing director of Karnaphuli Gas told 抖阴精品 that the company has Tk聽246 crore due with the Karnaphuli Gas.
Meanwhile, Rahat Bin Kamal, head of investment of United Power, denied Titas Gas鈥� allegations as they paid the distribution company as per the contract.
He also said that they paid their bills as per the directives of the BERC and energy ministry issued in 2008 and 2009.
鈥楾here were at least 100 hearings in the court between 2018 and 2023, and finally, the court ordered that they couldn鈥檛 interfere in the decision of the energy ministry, citing the United Power was not captive one,鈥� he added.
Rahat said that they also agreed the decision on providing power to EPZ at IPP rate and outside at captive rate.
But, in March 2025, the energy ministry instructed Titas to make bill as per 2018 decision to pay bill as captive rate.
He said that as per the contract, they haven鈥檛 any dues with the Titas.
