The Bangladesh Cold Storage Association (BCSA) has urged the government to provide a 20% rebate on electricity bills and raise the potato export incentive to 30% from the existing 10% to help the sector overcome a severe crisis caused by falling potato prices.
At a press briefing, BCSA President Mostafa Azad Babu also called for keeping the existing cold storage charge at Tk 6.75 per kg, warning that any increase would further burden farmers and storage operators.
The association said commercial electricity tariffs for cold storage facilities increased by 18% from June 1, 2026, while labour, ammonia gas, lubricants, spare parts and maintenance costs have also risen significantly.
It urged the government to recognize cold storage as an agro-based industry and establish a Tk 60-80 billion refinancing or business support fund through Bangladesh Bank. The fund would allow operators to access loans at 4-5% interest.
The BCSA also proposed converting quarterly loan repayments into annual instalments to reflect the seasonal nature of the business and called for potato growers to be included in the government’s Farmers Card program.
