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The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has urged the government to disconnect all illegal gas connections in the country.
BGMEA President Faruque Hassan made the call as he met with Md Mahbub Hossain, senior secretary at the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, in the capital Sunday.
They discussed the present situation of the apparel industry, especially the current demand and supply of natural gas in the garment and textile industries and future scenarios.
Faruque said illegal gas connections deprive the government of a big revenue opportunity and also pose the risk of fire.
These connections take a large amount of gas, putting pressure on the mainline, and ultimately cause problems for the legal users, including the industrial sector, he added.
Inadequate gas supply and low pressure disrupt industrial production, hurting the export-oriented industries, including garment and textile sectors which have to maintain lead time in shipping goods, Faruque said.
He assured the senior secretary of all-out cooperation from the BGMEA to the government in its drive to snap unauthorised gas connections, especially in the industrial zones.
BGMEA Vice-President Shahidullah Azim and Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Managing Director Haronur Rashid Mullah were also present at the meeting.