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Contacted, the factory’s general manager (operations) Abdul Hakim said the TGTDCL authorities stopped supplying natural gas to JFCL without any prior notice.

“We have repeatedly asked Petro Bangla to resume gas supply to JFCL. But we did not get any reply to our letters,” he said.

“Besides, the government has increased the price of natural gas. As a result, we will have to pay Tk 30 crore more per month,” he added.

According to the factory authorities, it has the capacity to produce around 1,700 to 1,750 tonnes of urea daily, which can easily meet the demand of farmers in 20 districts.

If the factory’s production is not resumed, farmers of these 20 districts, mostly in the northern region, will face a severe crisis of fertilisers, said Abdullah Al Mamun, agriculture officer of Sarishabari Upazila.

Meanwhile, the factory workers have been demonstrating demand for the resumption of gas supply and the factory’s operation.

“Thousands of workers are in severe financial crisis due to the closure of the factory. The factory is also terminating workers amid all these,” said Moazzem, a worker leader.

A Titas official, requesting anonymity, said the gas suspension at the fertiliser factories is a decision taken by the government. “If the government could increase the gas supply then it will be possible to supply gas to the company,” he said.

This correspondent could not reach Titas MD Md Haronur Rashid Mullah over the phone despite repeated attempts.