Dhaka:Persistent shortages of gas and electricity are disrupting operations at some textile mills, industry leaders informed Opposition Leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman on Tuesday. They sought policy support to address energy, tax, and other challenges facing the sector.
According to United News of Bangladesh, a delegation from the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) raised these issues during a meeting with Shafiqur Rahman, also the Jamaat-e-Islami ameer, at his official residence in the capital.
BTMA Vice President Shafiqul Islam Sarker reported that despite some improvements, certain factories continue to experience significant problems with gas and electricity. The association also discussed challenges related to incentives, increased taxes, Bangladesh's graduation from the least developed country (LDC) category, and the misuse of bonded yarn.
Sarker noted that the government had already addressed some industry concerns, and discussions were ongoing for others. He highlighted the textile sector's approximately US$32 billion investment, emphasizing its role as a key backward-linkage industry for Bangladesh's readymade garment sector by supplying raw materials.
Mia Golam Porwar, the Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat, conveyed that the Jamaat Ameer assured the BTMA delegation of his commitment to raising the sector's concerns in Parliament and collaborating with the government to resolve them. Porwar also emphasized the opposition leader's approach of supporting government initiatives in the public interest while opposing measures deemed harmful, describing this as constructive opposition.