Power woes hit apparel and textile manufacturing units

Power woes of Bangladesh are forcing factory owners to spend on liquid fuel to keep the factory running and paying the minimum mandatory charges to the state-owned gas-distribution-company Titas as about 60 per cent dyeing and finishing units, weaving and spinning mills go gas starved.

“This double-count loss has now emerged as the biggest threat to the export-oriented industries in continuing their production and maintaining competitiveness,” said Mohammad Hatem, ex-VP,Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA). The situation, industry sources indicated, might worsen further with the onset of winter unless corrective measures were taken right now and urged the authorities to step in with a solution.