The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry on Wednesday demanded gas connections by August to the industries which were issued demand notes as the industries have been stuck with their investment because of this problem. ‘In last few years a number of industries were established which received demand notes for gas connections but were yet to have the connections. Those factories have imported capital machinery, have huge bank loans but could not go for production,’ FBCCI president Abdul Matlub Ahmad said in a press briefing at the federation’s auditorium in the capital. Former FBCCI president AK Azad said only 8-10 industries received gas connections so far whereas around 80 industries received demand notes. ‘A committee headed by the energy adviser assured that around 80 industries will get connections but so far around 10 received connections. We had a meeting with the adviser today [Wednesday] where we raised this issue. The adviser said he will place the issue before the respective committee,’ said Azad. He said when gas distribution companies issued demand notes the government is supposed to provide the connections. Matlub said the government should provide the gas connection to those industries by August. ‘Even the banks are getting stuck because of this delay,’ he said. He said the government should restart the old and closed power plants, along with the quick rental ones, under the public private partnership to fight the electricity problem. ‘Now the diesel price dropped more than half in the international market. So if the government restarts its old diesel-run power plants the production cost will be lower. The private sector will also invest in such ventures if the diesel price is adjusted,’ he said. Matlub said the government has given a number of facilities to the business community but because of the gas supply problem those facilities are yet to be fruitful. ‘We also received huge benefits in the budget,’ he said. Matlub, however, said the budgetary move will affect the local biscuit industry. ‘The government increased the tariff value for the crackers, digestive or chocolate biscuits by Tk 20 in each slab whereas the supplementary duty on imported biscuits was reduced to 45 per cent from 60 per cent. This will put the local biscuit makers into very tough competition,’ he said. When asked about Matlub’s vow to from a committee within one week of his presidency and lower the bank interest rate, he said, ‘Because of the budget and Ramadan we could not announce the committee yet. Now the committee has been finalised and we will announce it in August.’ Immediate past president of FBCCI Kazi Akram Uddin, International Chamber of Commerce Bangladesh president Mahbubur Rahman and Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Mahbubul Alam were also present on the occasion.
