Tarikul Alam; Dhaka: The President of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), Taskeen Ahmed, has raised an alarm over a severe energy crisis crippling the nation’s industrial sectors.
Speaking at a roundtable discussion titled “Global Energy Crisis: Impact on Bangladesh and the Way Forward,” he revealed that natural gas shortages have forced garment factories to cut production by half.
Key Impacts on Industry and Life:
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Manufacturing: Cement production costs have risen by 25–30 BDT per bag. Steel and pharmaceutical raw materials have also seen massive price hikes.
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Logistics: Container freight charges have surged by 20–40%, adding up to $4,000 in additional costs per container.
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Agriculture: Diesel and fertilizer import costs have jumped by 17% and 90% respectively. Lack of cold storage is causing 30% of crops to waste.
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Cost of Living: LPG prices have doubled (from 900 BDT to 1,890 BDT), and the urban poor are now spending 22% of their income on energy alone.
Proposed Solutions
DCCI suggests diversifying energy sources through government-to-government (G2G) deals with Malaysia or Brunei and negotiating deferred payment plans. They also recommend promoting rooftop solar, renovating old gas pipelines to stop system loss, and providing subsidies for the agricultural sector to ensure national food security.
DCCI’s Industrial Impact Summary
| Sector | Impact / Cost Increase |
| Garments | 50% reduction in production capacity |
| Cement | 25–30 BDT increase per bag |
| LPG Gas | Price rose from 900 BDT to 1,890 BDT |
| Logistics | Freight charges up by 20–40% |
| Agriculture | 90% increase in fertilizer import costs |