At least 250 readymade garment factories and more than 100 textile mills failed to run their operation due to lack of gas connection. So far the investment amount of Tk 15,000 crore have remained idle in last two years, according to the sources of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Exporters Association of Bangladesh (EAB) and Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA).Talking to the New Nation, EAB President Abdus Salam Murshedy said, “If the factories were operational, more than 9 lakh people could be employed and the country could achieve additional export earnings worth US$ 1.5 billion”.The government should pay special attention to export-oriented industries to achieve the target of export earnings of $50 billion in coming years.”If we want to increase our export, the government has to ensure sufficient gas and electricity connections in the export oriented factories”, said the EAB president.Actually, the factories are needed uninterrupted power supply including gas for the interest of the country’s economy. A good number of export oriented factories shifted to relocated building, as per the instruction of Accord and Alliance but they did not get the gas connection. In this situation many garment industries failed to deliver its orders to the buyers, he explained. Many factories are forced to use captive power to continue production at the same time production cost bound to increase as well as decreasing its competitiveness. He urged the government to pay a special attention for the connection of gas and electricity in the industries for smooth running of the business. Meanwhile, BTMA Vice -President Md Fazlul Hoque claimed that many owners have set up factories by the permission of the government but they did not get the gas connections.”Definitely, we have every right to obtain gas connections in our factories. If the government would not provide gas connection why they approved the factories”, he questioned.He urged the government to take a permanent solution of the problems. Access to finance is also one of the major problems in doing business, hints the BTMA leader. “Banks are reluctant to provide financial assistance without connections of gas and electricity in the factories”.
