The Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) has sought permission for industrial units to pay their gas and electricity bills for July and August in equal installments over the next 12 months, citing severe energy shortages and rising production costs.

BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem made the request in a letter to Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud.

According to the letter, severe gas and electricity shortages in July and August disrupted production at most industrial establishments. Many factories were unable to maintain normal operations due to interruptions in the supply of natural gas through open and cascade cylinders.

To keep production running, factory owners had to spend additional cash on diesel, LPG and other alternative fuels. BKMEA said these unplanned expenses were not included in their original production costs, causing significant financial losses.

The association said paying the July and August gas and electricity bills in a single payment would be extremely difficult for most industrial units under the circumstances. It warned that this could put exports, factory production and workers’ employment at risk.

BKMEA said allowing the bills to be paid in equal installments over 12 months would help keep export activities operational, maintain foreign exchange earnings and protect workers’ jobs.

The association also sought the minister’s intervention to issue necessary instructions to the relevant authorities to facilitate the installment payment arrangement.