Power supply is being cut off for an average of two to three hours every day in various industrial areas, BKMEA president Mohammad Hatem told reporters.
Expressing concern over the ongoing load shedding and fuel crisis, the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association has said production is being severely disrupted due to power shortage, hitting exports.
The crisis is especially acute in some rural areas like Bhaluka, Sripur and Rajendrapur, and many factories are running at 50-60-per cent capacity.
The crisis is especially acute in some rural areas like Bhaluka, Sripur and Rajendrapur, and many factories are running at 50-60-per cent capacity, he said.
Only with production at full capacity, export income of this sector can exceed $50 billion annually, he noted.
Transportation costs have increased due to the increase in fuel prices, BKMEA said.
Production costs in the readymade garment industry have increased by at least 20 per cent due to various reasons, including an increase in workers’ wages, Hatem was cited as saying by domestic media reports.
Despite foreign buyers monitoring labour standards and rights, there is no initiative to ensure fair prices, he said.
BKMEA executive president Fazle Shamim Ehsan said orders for the next year usually arrive more in May-June. However, if the global situation does not improve, the export flow may decrease further in the next season, he said.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
