Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has urged the Government of Bangladesh to consider the demand of the garment and textile manufacturers of Bangladesh to not increase gas prices.
While conveying the same at a press conference on 27 March, Mohammad Siddiqur Rahman, President, BGMEA, appealed to the government to formulate an energy policy and prioritise the industry. He added that this was essential to sustain the industry.
Reportedly, he further substantiated “For the industry to survive, the government must keep it out of the purview of the gas price hike that has been proposed by the gas distribution companies.” Expressing concerns over the proposal from gas companies to hike prices, the BGMEA president reportedly said that due to the hike, employment will go down, as there will be no entrepreneurs.
Mohammed Ali Khokon, President, Bangladesh Textile Mill Association (BTMA) and Monsur Ahmed, Acting President, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), too attended the press conference.
Recently, the gas distribution companies proposed hiking gas price from Taka 7.76 per cubic feet to Taka 15.70 per cubic feet (or 93 per cent) for industry, and also proposed increasing gas price from Taka 9.62 per cubic feet to Taka 15.70 per cubic feet (by 63 per cent) for captive power. There was also proposal to increase gas price from Taka 17.04 per cubic feet to Taka 20 per cubic feet for commercial purpose.
