Photo : Collected

DHAKA, April 13, 2026 (BSS) – Leaders of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) today sought government’s support in ensuring uninterrupted energy supply for the country’s readymade garment (RMG) sector.

They sought the support when a delegation of the trade association representing the country’s readymade garment industry, met with the Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Iqbal Hassan Mahmood and State Minister Aninda Islam Amit at the ministry.

The delegation, led by BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan, included First Vice-President Selim Rahman and Vice-President (Finance)Mizanur Rahman. Energy Secretary Mohammad Saiful Islam was also present at the meeting.

During the meeting, the BGMEA President said that although buyer confidence has started to restore following the recent general election, the ongoing Middle East conflict has once again posed challenges to the global market. 

He noted that neighboring countries are ahead in energy security, and the current energy situation triggered by the conflict has put Bangladesh’s garment industry in a vulnerable position, said a BGMEA press release here.

He further informed that due to insufficient gas and electricity supply, production capacity in factories has declined by 25–30 percent.  

To address the situation, the BGMEA delegation placed several key proposals, including:

Emergency fuel supply: Ensuring prompt diesel supply to garment factories from nearby filling stations under special arrangements.
Gas connection and distribution: Providing urgent gas connections, especially for small and medium industries (with boiler capacity of 300–500 kg), and ensuring equitable gas distribution across industrial zones surrounding Dhaka.

Infrastructure development and automation: Installation of at least two additional Floating Storage Regasification Units (FSRUs) at the earliest and simplification of the process for installing EVC meters in industries.

Tax and duty reduction: Withdrawal of import duties and consumer-level taxes on imported fuel to reduce production costs and lessen the government’s subsidy burden.

The meeting also emphasized the importance of renewable energy. BGMEA requested special tariff concessions on the import of solar PV system components to promote environmentally sustainable industrialization.

The association proposed reducing the existing high duties (ranging from 28.73 percent to 61.80 percent) on essential equipment such as solar panels, inverters, DC cables, and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to 1 percent.

The Minister and State Minister listened attentively to the proposals and assured that necessary steps would be taken considering the vital contribution of the RMG sector to the national economy. 

They also acknowledged BGMEA’s proposed format to facilitate emergency diesel supply from nearby filling stations.