Dhaka, April 13, 2026 — Leaders of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) have urged the government to ensure uninterrupted energy supply to sustain production in the country’s readymade garment (RMG) sector.
The call came during a meeting with Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood and State Minister Anindya Islam Amit at the ministry.
The BGMEA delegation, led by its President Mahmud Hasan Khan, said that despite a gradual recovery in buyer confidence following the recent election, ongoing global tensions—particularly in the Middle East—have created fresh uncertainty in energy supply.
BGMEA leaders said gas and electricity shortages have reduced factory production capacity by 25–30%, putting Bangladesh’s RMG sector at a competitive disadvantage compared to regional peers with stronger energy security.
To address the situation, the association proposed several measures, including emergency diesel supply to factories from nearby filling stations, urgent gas connections for small and medium industries, and equitable gas distribution across industrial zones around Dhaka. It also called for the installation of additional Floating Storage Regasification Units (FSRUs) and simplification of procedures for installing EVC meters.
The association further urged the withdrawal of import duties and taxes on fuel to reduce production costs and ease subsidy pressure.
Emphasizing renewable energy, BGMEA proposed significant reductions in import duties on solar equipment—including panels, inverters and battery storage systems—to as low as 1% from existing rates of up to 61.8%.
The ministers acknowledged the sector’s importance to the national economy and assured that the proposals would be considered, including facilitating emergency diesel supply arrangements.
