Gas and electricity supplies have improved slightly in industrial and residential areas of Savar, Ashulia and Dhamrai, bringing some relief to factories and households after days of shortages.
The improvement has allowed some factories to resume boiler and ironing operations, although gas pressure remains well below the level required for normal production, according to officials and industry representatives.
Sources at the Savar regional office of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited and Dhaka Palli Bidyut Samity-1 confirmed the improvement.
On Wednesday, visits to factories in Savar, Ashulia and Dhamrai found that gas pressure had increased slightly from the levels recorded in recent days.
There are around 1,200 factories in the Savar-Ashulia industrial zone. Industry representatives said gas supply had increased particularly in factories where boiler and ironing sections are operational.
Factories generally require gas pressure of 10-15 PSI for normal production. In recent days, pressure had dropped to zero in some areas. Since Wednesday, however, supply has been available at around 2-3 PSI.
The situation was observed in areas including Radio Colony and Hemayetpur in Savar, and Jamgora, Kathgora, Jirabo, Narsinghapur, Berun, Shimultala, Palashbari, Nishchintapur, Baipail and Jirani in Ashulia.
Mortuz Ali, a director of a garment factory in Savar, said the factory had been unable to operate its boilers and ironing sections for several days.
“We couldn’t operate our boilers or ironing sections for the past few days. However, gas supply has increased since yesterday. We are able to do some work today, although the supply remains insufficient; it needs to be increased further,” he said.
Habibur Rahman, general manager of a garment factory in Dhamrai, said the increased supply had allowed limited production.
“The increase allows for limited work. Still, it is better than having almost no supply at all,” he said.
Gas pressure also improves in residential areas
Gas pressure has also increased slightly in residential areas, although residents said supplies remained inadequate for cooking.
Ferdousi Sultana, a resident of Radio Colony in Savar, said there had been no gas for nearly two months.
“There was absolutely no gas for nearly two months. Now, however, some is coming through. But the supply we are getting makes cooking difficult,” she said.
Many residents have turned to alternative cooking arrangements amid the shortage.
Sharmin Akter, a resident of College Road in Savar Municipality, said: “We aren’t getting gas at any time—day or night. So, I’ve brought in a cylinder and am cooking with that.”
Engineer Abu Saleh Muhammad Khademuddin, official in charge of the Titas Gas Ashulia Zone, said the situation had improved slightly since Wednesday.
“The situation has improved slightly since yesterday. Supply has risen from zero to 2-3 PSI. We expect the situation to improve further in the coming days,” he said.
Mohammad Mominul Islam Bhuiyan, superintendent of Industrial Police-1, which covers Savar and Ashulia, said he had learned that gas supply had increased.
“There are no reports of factories halting operations or facing issues due to the gas crisis,” he said.
Mohiuddin Rubel, founder and CEO of Bangladesh Apparel Voice and a former director of the BGMEA, said gas supply had improved and was returning roughly to its previous level.
“We expect the situation to improve further in line with the government’s assurances. In particular, there is no alternative to increasing supply to factories to sustain the industry,” he said.
Electricity situation
The electricity situation has also improved slightly, although several grids continue to face supply deficits.
According to Palli Bidyut data, electricity demand at the Savar grid at 2pm Wednesday was 42MW, against a supply of 37MW, resulting in 5MW of load-shedding.
At the Nabinagar grid, demand was 90MW and supply was 78MW, resulting in 12MW of load-shedding.
At the Dhamrai grid, demand and supply were both 11MW, while both stood at 3MW at the Mirzapur grid. According to National Load Dispatch Centre (NLDC) figures, there was no load-shedding at either grid.
At the Kabirpur grid, demand was 250MW against a supply of 210MW, leaving a 40MW deficit.
At the Kadda grid, demand stood at 110MW against a supply of 75MW. NLDC-imposed load-shedding accounted for 15MW, while feeder shutdowns caused by bus overloading accounted for another 20MW.
Supply from the Summit power plant was 9MW, while United Power supplied no electricity, according to the data.
The total electricity demand in the area served by Dhaka Palli Bidyut Samity-1 was 515MW against a supply of 423MW. Total NLDC load-shedding was 72MW, while overloading accounted for another 20MW.
Md Akteruzzaman Laskar, senior general manager of Dhaka Palli Bidyut Samity-1, said electricity supply had increased compared to previous days.
“Electricity supply has increased compared to the last few days. The situation will improve further. We are striving to distribute electricity based on priority,” he said.