Gas, Power Shortages Put Industrial Sector Under Severe Strain

Photo: Collected

News Desk: A nationwide shortage of gas and electricity has severely disrupted production at industrial plants of all sizes, affecting key sectors such as garments, textiles and plastics.

As manufacturers grapple with mounting financial pressure, the Chattogram Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) has called for immediate government and banking-sector support to protect industrial operations and prevent further economic losses.
CCCI President Mohammed Amirul Haque made the appeal in two separate letters sent on Saturday (August 8) to Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood and Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury.
CCCI seeks six-month protection from utility disconnections
In his letter to the Energy Minister, Haque said persistent and unexpected shortages of electricity and gas had forced a number of factories to suspend production or resort to informal layoffs.
With revenues declining sharply, many businesses are finding it increasingly difficult to meet routine expenses, pay utility bills and ensure workers’ wages, he said.
To ease the pressure on manufacturers and provide them with time to recover, the Chamber proposed several measures, including:
No utility disconnections: Gas and electricity connections of industrial units should not be disconnected for the next six months due to unpaid bills.
90-day payment grace period: Monthly utility bill payments should be temporarily deferred, allowing factories three months to settle outstanding bills without facing late-payment penalties.
Three-month loan moratorium, interest waiver sought
In his separate letter to the Finance Minister, Haque warned that requiring businesses to continue servicing high-interest loans amid the ongoing energy crisis could place an unbearable burden on industrial owners.
He cautioned that prolonged financial pressure could weaken Bangladesh’s investment climate and discourage both local and foreign investors.
To support export-oriented businesses and the wider manufacturing sector, the CCCI urged the Finance Ministry to introduce two immediate measures:
Suspend loan installments: All bank loan installment payments for businesses should be deferred for three months.
Waive interest: Bangladesh Bank and commercial banks should be directed to waive loan interest for the same three-month period.
Chamber acknowledges government initiatives
The CCCI also recognized the recent initiatives taken by the Power and Energy Ministry, saying they had helped bring temporary stability to the country’s energy supply situation.
However, business leaders emphasized that temporary improvements alone would not be enough to ensure a sustainable recovery. They called for coordinated and flexible policy measures from both the Energy and Finance ministries.
According to the Chamber, immediate relief from utility payments and banking obligations is essential to help industries maintain production, protect employment and support the country’s broader economic momentum.