The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) has urged the government to ensure adequate gas and power supplies to industries for accelerating the country’s industrialisation process, according to reports in the Bangladeshi media. “The government has already taken a number of positive initiatives to meet the power demand of industrial sector, and we’re getting benefit. But, industries and factories are unable to go on full operation for lack of required power and gas,” FBCCI president Abdul Matlub Ahmad told a press conference in Dhaka. He said as the readymade garment manufacturers were relocating their factories from the capital to meet compliance norms set by the international buyers, and they need gas connection in the new places. Many industries are being run through captive power generated by their own management or lack of adequate power supply. This only increases the production cost, he said. The FBCCI president said there is no alternative to ensuring smooth and uninterrupted power and gas supplies to industries in order to boost production and promote investment. Abdul Matlub said a large number of industries, including that of textile and garments, have been set up in the country in the last couple of years and the gas transmission and distribution companies have already issued ‘demand notes’ against the industries to provide gas connections. “Gas connection should be provided to those factories, which already are issued demand notes by Titas Gas and others, by August,” he said. The FBCCI president suggested taking steps to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the export-oriented garment and textile industries on a priority basis
