The Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) has called on the government to urgently ensure uninterrupted gas supply.

The association warns that the ongoing shortage is forcing factories to reduce production and causing heavy financial losses.

On April 27, in a letter sent to the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, BTMA President Showkat Aziz Russell outlined the challenges facing the sector.

He said that due to the shortfall in gas supply, textile mills are unable to operate at full capacity, leading to a gradual depletion of working capital and a sharp decline in export competitiveness.

By the letter, BTMA warned that mills are struggling to meet export order deadlines, while production costs are rising, making it harder for Bangladeshi products to compete in the international market.

If the gas crisis continues, a significant number of mills may shut down operations, potentially sparking labour unrest ahead of Eid-ul-Azha over delays in wage and festival allowance payments.

The BTMA said the crisis is worsened by rising gas and electricity prices, a dollar shortage, higher bank interest rates, reduced cash incentives, and the devaluation of the local currency.

Besides, mills across various industrial zones have been unable to maintain expected production levels for a prolonged period due to the gas shortage.

Highlighting the situation, Showkat Aziz Russell said that Titas Gas has recently increased gas supplies to the power sector by cutting allocations for industries, worsening the crisis for textile manufacturers.

For example, Russell said, “Noman Group, which operates 28 factories, has nearly suspended production across most of its units, while the few remaining are operating under severe disruption.”

As a result, mills are incurring massive financial losses because they cannot produce enough goods to meet export orders.

The BTMA president stated, urging the government to take immediate steps to restore a smooth gas supply and protect the sector from further damage.