Apparel sector leaders have demanded that the government ensure power and gas connections to the factories relocated after the Rana Plaza and Tazreen Fashion disasters to begin production.Such relocation was done when major buyers insisted on improvement of working atmosphere at the factories. Industry insiders say more than 250 textile and garment factories failed to go into production and expansion mainly due to non-availability of gas and electricity for the last couple of years.Among the relocated factories, a good number of readymade garment (RMG) factories are export-oriented business, pointed out Abdus Salam Murshedy, President Exporters Association of Bangladesh or EAB.Some 64 non-compliant RMG units, mostly located in shared or rented buildings, however, could not relocate their units only because they are not allowed to shift their existing gas connections to the new destinations, Murshedy said.”If power and gas connections are not ensured, how can we go for more production to achieve government’s target for US$ 50 billion apparel exports by 2021,” the EAB chief questioned.Siddiqur Rahman, BGMEA President, said after the Rana Plaza building collapse, manufacturers frantically tried to relocate their units but scarcity of gas and electricity are hindering the process.Fazlul Hoque, Vice President of Bangladesh Textile Mills Association or BTMA, said many textile factories failed to go into production as they are not getting gas connection for the last few years.
