Load-shedding cripples RMG exporters: BGMEA president

The country’s apparel manufacturers are facing difficulties in delivering goods to international retailers and brands on time due to ongoing load-shedding, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Faruque Hassan said on Sunday.

“The situation has worsened so much that factories are facing four to 10 hours of power outage nowadays,” he said.

The BGMEA president was addressing a discussion on “Launching Web Portal on setting up factories, licensing, certification and registration” organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) and the GIZ at a hotel in Dhaka.

The government argued that load-shedding is being enforced to save diesel but now factories have to run on diesel due to the lower pressure of gas and power, Faruque said.

“Sometimes, gas pressure turns so low that factories can’t run at their full capacity. As a result, diesel consumption has not been reduced. Rather, it has increased.”

“With all these challenges, the cost of doing business is increasing and the export from Bangladesh has been performing poorly since September.”

Syed Nasim Monjur, managing director of Apex Footwear, Abdullah Al Mamun, vice president of BTMA, Sayed Muazzem Hossain, director of FBCCI and Muhammad Hatem, executive president of BKMEA also spoke, among others.