Production at factories in Savar and Ashulia is gradually picking up as gas pressure improves, with boilers and heavy machinery returning to operation after months of disruption.
Workers are now busy clearing backlogged orders, while factory owners are seeking financial assistance to recover losses incurred during the prolonged gas crisis.
According to Industrial Police and local business sources, around 1,800 factories operate in Savar and Ashulia, including the Dhaka Export Processing Zone. Most of the factories are garment units employing around 750,000-800,000 workers.
Gas shortages in recent months severely disrupted production. Factories that normally require around 10 pounds per square inch (PSI) of pressure often received only 1-1.5 PSI, making it difficult to operate boilers and dyeing units. Many factories were forced to use generators, increasing production costs.
The situation has improved over the past two days, with gas pressure rising in several areas. According to industry sources, pressure has increased from around 3 PSI to as high as 7 PSI in some areas following government measures and special initiatives by Titas Gas.
Ashik, an administrative officer at Fountain Garments Ltd, said the improvement had brought visible changes to production. “Our factory requires around 10 PSI, but we are now receiving 7 PSI. This has increased worker engagement and restored activity at the factory,” he said.
He further said continued improvement in fuel supply, along with bank support and the opportunity to pay outstanding gas and electricity bills in instalments, would help businesses recover their losses.
However, Santu Talukder, AGM (Admin) of Al-Muslim Group in Narsinghpur, said gas supply was still below the factory’s requirement. “We are still not receiving the amount of gas we need, but the situation has improved somewhat in recent days,” he said.
Titas Gas Deputy General Manager Engineer Md Jahangir Alam said gas pressure had improved in the Savar-Ashulia industrial areas. “Pressure does not increase simultaneously in all areas. Supply is being increased gradually depending on the area,” he said, expressing hope that the situation would become more stable in the coming days.
