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Bangladesh gas crisis: business sector urges the government to act
For the World Economic Forum, energy shortages are the top risk among five that threaten the country's economy. Gas shortages make cooking harder, leading to greater distress in people. Manufacturing is also affected. Without quick action, production could see a major drop.
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Dhaka (AsiaNews) – “I woke up at 5 o’clock in the morning only to discover that I could not heat a small amount of water. The gas supply had been absent throughout the day,” said Dina Hossain, a housewife in Mirpur. "My son's father is diabetic and the inability to cook a proper meal added to our distress.”
Dina’s situation illustrates the hardships caused by Bangladesh’s ongoing gas crisis. Rebecca Gomes, a Catholic lawyer who works at a Dhaka court, has to put up with a similar ordeal.
“I was healthy, but the stress and anxiety caused by the irregular gas supply have led to high blood pressure,” she explained.
“Gas is only available at 1:30 am and ceases at 6:00 am. This forces me to cook at night, disrupting my sleep and affecting my ability to function properly during the day. It's a health concern, and the government seems oblivious to our plight.”
For the World Economic Forum, energy shortages are the top risk among five threats to Bangladesh's economy.
Analysts attribute the crisis to lower domestic production and increased dependence on imports. However, the current dollar crisis has also hampered the increase in imports, posing a significant challenge in meeting the country’s energy needs.
In response to this situation, people have begun to cook with wood on rooftops or rely on restaurants for meals.
The impact of the gas crisis is not limited to households, it also affects services and industries, which are imposing prolonged closures leading to a collapse in production.
The president of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industries of Bangladesh (FBCCI), Mahbubul Alam, is concerned about potential consequences.
“If this situation persists,” he said, “industrial production will plunge into a deep crisis, causing widespread unemployment and exerting immense pressure on the country's economy. Urgent government intervention is necessary to avert this impending catastrophe.”
For Alam, the crisis is being exacerbated by global factors, such as disruptions caused by the Houthis in the Red Sea, greater fuel costs, and rising prices for imported raw materials due to geopolitical tensions like the Russia-Ukraine war.
Expressing scepticism about the timeline presented by the Ministry of Energy for solving the crisis by 2026, Alam once again highlighted the need for immediate action.
“The FBCCI calls for quick renovation of the gas infrastructure to ensure an uninterrupted supply to industries, acknowledging that the ongoing crisis is more than temporary.”
Alam hopes that “swift and appropriate government measures will secure adequate gas imports and a continuous supply, preventing further economic and industrial deterioration.”
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