Factories to get gas, power back to previous levels: FBCCI Administrator

Factories will soon see gas and electricity supplies restored to levels seen before the recent crisis, FBCCI Administrator Md Fazlul Haque said, citing an assurance from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

Speaking to reporters after a nearly three-hour meeting between the prime minister and representatives of 21 business organisations at the Secretariat on Monday (September 14), Haque said the supply situation would begin improving from Tuesday night.

“The prime minister has assured us that the newly emerged gas and power crisis will start easing from Tuesday night and supplies will return to the previous level,” he said.

Asked what was meant by “previous level,” Haque said the government was referring to the situation before the crisis intensified in August.

The assurance comes amid prolonged gas shortages and low pressure in Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayanganj and other industrial areas, which have disrupted factory production and increased difficulties for households, hotels and restaurants.

CNG filling stations have also faced long queues as the gas shortage has restricted supplies, while businesses and households have been forced to rely on more expensive alternative fuels.

Earlier, Economic and Planning Adviser Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir said gas supplies would return to normal within a few days through government measures and imports from alternative sources.

BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi had also said the government expected to resolve the crisis within one to one-and-a-half weeks.