About 90 factories in BSCIC area in Tongi have slashed their production about 70 percent because of a gas crisis for the last four months.

Thousands of workers at the gas-run factories have not received wages for three months because of drastic production cuts.

Against this backdrop, one factory has already suspended production and some more are thinking of suspending production from next month, further worsening the sufferings of workers.

"The severe gas crisis has

prompted us to think whether we will continue production from next month," said Abdur Rouf, advisor of Dhaka Ceramics and Sanitary Wares Limited.

"We have been paying wages to our workers for the last three months despite minimum production but it may not be possible from next month," Rouf added.

He pointed out a constant temperature is needed for a ceramic factory to continue its production but currently gas supply has dropped to two pounds per square inch (PSI) against the requirement of 15 PSI.

Narrating the miseries due to

non-receipt of wages for three months, Mokbul Hossain, a worker of National Glass Factory that has suspended production, said, "I can no longer manage two square meals a day." Casting a vain look, Mokbul mentioned he is working in the factory for two years on a monthly wages of Tk 1,200 and blamed the present situation on the gas crisis.

A bewildered Rina Begum, another worker, said: "I don't know what I will do now as I am not getting my wages for the last three months. I could not pay house rents for these months and I don't see an end to this."

Abul Hossain, manager of the factory, said they are getting only 2 PSI gas supply but they need 15 PSI.

"We are unable to pay wages to our 500 workers as there has been no production in our factory in the last two months," Hossain said. "If there is no production, how can we pay wages to our workers?"

National Glass Factory, Jupitar Glass Factory and Khawja Rerolling Mills are among the major gas-run factories.

Factory officials said they had given 40 letters to the Titas Gas authorities informing them of the gas crisis in the BSCIC area but the crisis yet to be solved.

Officials at Tongi Regional Office of Titas Gas attributed the situation to increase in the demand for gas over the last few years.

"Usually the gas crisis in BSCIC area emerges in winter due to some technical problems but this year the problem has cropped up ahead of winter as the supply of gas from the national grid line is low," said Fakrul Islam, Tongi regional manager.

There is little possibility of any improvement in the situation before December, he thought.