The Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) has urged the government to allow export-oriented garment factories to pay their July-August gas and electricity bills in 12 equal monthly instalments.
In a letter to Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood, BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem said severe gas and power shortages had disrupted production and created a serious liquidity crunch for manufacturers.
He said factories were forced to purchase costly alternative fuels such as diesel and LPG to keep production running, sharply increasing operating costs.
BKMEA said the proposed payment facility would help factories maintain exports, protect foreign exchange earnings and safeguard employment.
The association urged the government to instruct utility distribution companies to allow the July and August bills to be paid over 12 months.