Gas Shortage Forces Shutdown of 20 Factories in Mymensingh Industrial Belt
Photo Collected
Severe gas shortages in the Mymensingh industrial belt have forced the closure of 20 factories, leading to the dismissal of workers for the day as production across the region hits a critical low. While laborers reported for their shifts on Thursday morning, management at several facilities began sending workers home by the lunch hour due to the inability to maintain operations.
According to Industrial Police-5, average production across major factories in the region has plummeted by 50 percent. Police Superintendent Ansar Uddin confirmed the scale of the disruption, noting that the crisis is affecting a significant portion of the area’s 293 industrial units, 99 of which are reliant on natural gas.
The textile and yarn manufacturing sectors have suffered the most significant impact. At Toyo Spinning Mills in Gouripur, 43 of its 50 machines remain idle, while Sima Spinning Mills in Bhaluka has been forced to halt 30 machines, cutting its total output in half. Similar production losses of 50 percent or more were reported at Bashar Spinning, Nortex Textile, and Delta Spinners. Furthermore, Experience Textile is operating with 40 percent of its machinery offline, and Excellent Ceramics has shuttered its furnaces, driving production levels well below 50 percent capacity.
Assistant Superintendent of Industrial Police Gopinath Kanjilal stated that gas pressure began dropping early Thursday morning. As a result, companies including Mahadi Sweaters Ltd., Sultana Sweaters, Liz Fashion, TM Textile, Trishal Textile, and BSP Spinning Mills dismissed their workforces mid-day.
Industrial utility managers report that the low-pressure crisis has persisted for nearly two months. At Glory Textile and Apparel in Bhaluka, manager Sohel Ahammed noted that the plant requires 15 PSI of pressure to function but is receiving only 11 to 12 PSI, resulting in a steady decline in output.
Shamim Hossain, manager of system operations at the Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company’s Bhaluka regional office, attributed the shortage to a reduction in overall gas supply. He explained that while the area is serviced by two lines requiring 140 and 50 PSI respectively, current supplies have dwindled to between 30 and 50 PSI.
Attempts to reach management at Mahadi Sweaters, Sultana Sweaters, and BSP Spinning Mills for comment were unsuccessful. Managing Director of Mahadi Sweaters, Syed Ahmed, disconnected a telephone call upon being contacted for a statement regarding the factory closures.
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