Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) has called on the government to urgently ensure an uninterrupted gas supply, warning that the ongoing shortage is severely disrupting factory operations and causing substantial financial losses.
In a letter sent to the Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources on April 27th, BTMA President Showkat Aziz Russell outlined the critical challenges facing the textile sector. Russell stated that the gas shortfall is preventing textile mills from operating at full capacity, leading to the erosion of working capital and a sharp decline in export competitiveness. BTMA warned that mills are struggling to meet export deadlines, while escalating production costs are making Bangladeshi textiles less competitive globally.
If the crisis persists, a significant number of mills could face closure, risking labor unrest ahead of Eid-ul-Azha due to potential delays in wage and festival allowance payments. The situation is being compounded by several factors, including rising gas and electricity prices, a shortage of US dollars, higher bank interest rates, reduced cash incentives, and the devaluation of the local currency. Mills across multiple industrial zones have been unable to maintain expected production levels for an extended period, BTMA noted.
Highlighting the worsening situation, Russell pointed out that TITAS gas has recently increased supply to the power sector by cutting allocations to industries, further deepening the crisis for textile manufacturers.
BTMA strongly urged the government to take immediate steps to restore a steady gas supply and safeguard the sector from further deterioration.
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