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Ensure uninterrupted power supply to RMG units

BGMEA leaders urge govt

Staff Correspondent, ctg
Business leaders at a press conference in Chittagong yesterday called for increasing gas supply to different garment units through new connections and addressing load shedding and power outage on an emergency basis.
Garment and other industrial units in the port city are facing these problems for long, they further said, adding that the industries may witness a halt to normal production that is sure to give rise to unemployment and labour unrest.
They feared that interrupted gas supply and frequent power outage may also affect the country's economy seriously.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) organised the press conference at a local hotel ahead of the regional conference to be held at Institute of Engineers
Bangladesh, Chittagong auditoriumtoday.
Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed will be present at the conference.
The BGMEA leaders put forward an eight-point recommendation, including smooth gas supply to Chittagong through setting up new pipelines from Comilla or Bibiyana gas fields as assured by Special Assistant to the CA M Tamim.
The recommendations also included cancellation of licensing system under which an annual charge of Tk 1 lakh has to be paid for installation of a 1-MW generator, uninterrupted supply of power and water to garment and other industrial units.
The BGMEA leaders said acute crises of gas, power and water are not only causing a halt to huge production and financial losses to the industrial units, but also discouraging potential investors from investing in Chittagong.
They said new connections to garment and other industrial units in Chittagong have remained suspended since September 2007 while those having gas connections are also facing low pressure of gas.
The BGMEA leaders, however, recommended for a minimum supply of 500-MW power to Chittagong from the national grid and ensure uninterrupted power supply to the garment factories here.
BGMEA acting President MA Salam read out a written statement at the conference where former BGMEA first vice presidents Mahabub Ali, Khalilur Rahman, SM Abu Tayab and Ershad Ullah, BGMEA Standing Committee on Power Chairman Hasan Uz Zaman. CSE President Nasiruddin Ahmed Chowdhury, BGMEA directors Nasir Uddin Chowdhury, Abdul Mannan Rana and Mainuddin Mintu also took part in the conference.