FE Report

Some 13 gas-dependent industries have been facing closure due to zero pressure gas supply in Mukterpur Industrial area of Munshiganj for the last few weeks.

Despite repeated requests to the authorities concerned, production in these mills has gone down to, what the mill owners claimed, "70 per cent due to low pressure in gas supply."

Disclosing this to newsmen at the National Press Club on Monday, Chairman of Asian Group of Industries Md Harun-ur-Rasheed demanded some government measures to save these mills and factories from impending closure.

These include ensuring uninterrupted supply of gas to Mukterpur industrial area by removing technical problems, providing low interest loans to the local industries to install diesel operated electric generators and introducing rationing system for diesel oil.

Owners of Asian Specialised Textile Mills Ltd, Asian Cotton Spinning Mills Ltd, Crown Cement, Premier Cement Mills Ltd, Shah Cement Industries Ltd, Akij Match Factory Ltd, Madina Dyeing-Printing and Processing Industries Ltd, Barnali Fabrics Ltd, Ideal Textile Mills Ltd, Molla Knit Apparel and Dyeing Ltd, Orbit Fashion Wear Ltd, Sohan Filament Yarn and Fishing Net Industry (pvt) Ltd and Asia Paper and Board Mills Ltd were present in the press conference.

The owners claimed that these industries had been receiving low pressure gas supply for the last 9 to 10 months and zero pressure gas for the last 20 days when they expected an improvement in the gas supply situation because of the end of IRRI-Boro season.

In such circumstances, Mr Rasheed said production in these mills and factories remains suspended for 17 hours on an average a day putting burden on them to pay the salaries to their staff, while counting overhead cost including accrued interest on bank loans.

After the situation was brought to the attention of all concerned including the Prime Minister, gas supply situation improved for a few days only.

The affected export-oriented mills and factories have about 35,000 workers-employees in their payroll and support more than 175,000 others. The owners demanded proper measures immediately to save the lives of these hapless people.