Gas and electricity supplies in industrial and residential areas of Savar, Ashulia and Dhamrai have improved slightly, offering some relief to residents and helping factories resume limited operations. However, the crisis is far from over, with industry stakeholders calling for a further increase in gas supply to restore normal production.
The information was confirmed by sources at the Savar regional office of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited and Dhaka Palli Bidyut Samity-1.
Officials at Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited’s Savar regional office and Dhaka Palli Bidyut Samity-1 confirmed the matter.
During visits to various factories in Savar, Ashulia and Dhamrai on Thursday morning, gas pressure was found to have increased slightly compared with the past few days.
Industry stakeholders said around 1,200 factories operate in the Savar-Ashulia industrial belt. Factories with operational boilers and ironing sections, particularly garment units, have seen some improvement in gas supply. However, the pressure remains far below the level required for normal production.
Industry stakeholders said around 1,200 factories operate in the Savar-Ashulia industrial belt, with some garment factories seeing improved gas supplies for their boilers and ironing sections. However, gas pressure remains well below the 10-15 PSI required for normal production.
They said gas pressure of 10-15 pounds per square inch (PSI) is required for normal operations. In some areas, pressure had dropped to zero in recent days. Since Wednesday, however, factories have been receiving around 2-3 PSI.
The situation was observed during visits to factories in Radio Colony and Hemayetpur in Savar, and Jamgora, Kathgora, Zirabo, Narsinghpur, Berun, Shimultala, Palashbari, Nishchintapur, Baipayl and Zirani in Ashulia.
Mortuza Ali, director of a garment factory in Savar, told Dhaka Tribune: “We could not operate the boilers and ironing sections for the past few days. Gas supply has increased since Wednesday, allowing us to carry out some work Thursday. However, the supply is still inadequate and needs to be increased further.”
Habibur Rahman, general manager of a garment factory in Dhamrai, said: “The increase allows us to carry out some limited work. Still, it is better than having almost no gas supply.”
Gas pressure improves slightly in residential areas
Gas pressure has also improved slightly in residential areas, although the supply remains inadequate for regular household use.
Ferdausi Sultana, a resident of Savar’s Radio Colony, told Dhaka Tribune: “There was virtually no gas for nearly two months. Some supply has returned, but the pressure is still very low, making cooking difficult.”
Amid the shortage, many residents have turned to alternative cooking arrangements. Sharmin Akter, a resident of College Road in Savar municipality, said: “We are not getting gas at any time of the day or night. So, we have brought in cylinders and are using them for cooking.”
Engineer Abu Saleh Mohammad Khademuddin, the official in charge of Titas Gas’s Ashulia zone, told Dhaka Tribune that the situation had improved somewhat since Wednesday.
“Gas pressure has risen from zero to around 2-3 PSI. We hope the situation will improve further in the coming days,” he said.
Mohammad Mominul Islam Bhuiyan, superintendent of Industrial Police-1, who oversees Savar and Ashulia, said he had learned that gas supplies had increased.
“We have no information about any factory suspending operations or facing problems due to the gas shortage,” he said.
Mohiuddin Rubel, founder and CEO of Bangladesh Apparel Voice and a former director of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), told Dhaka Tribune that gas supplies had improved and the situation was gradually returning to normal.
“The deadlock has eased,” he said.
Rubel added: “We expect the situation to improve further in line with the government’s commitments. There is no alternative to increasing gas supplies to factories, particularly to keep the industry running.”
Power supply situation
The power supply situation has also improved somewhat, according to Rural Electrification Board sources.
At 2pm on Wednesday, electricity demand at the Savar grid was 42MW, against a supply of 37MW, leaving a 5MW shortfall.
At the Nabinagar grid, demand stood at 90MW, while supply was 78MW, resulting in 12MW of load-shedding.
At the Dhamrai grid, both demand and supply stood at 11MW, while the Mirzapur grid recorded demand and supply of 3MW each. According to the National Load Dispatch Centre (NLDC), neither grid experienced load-shedding.
At the Kabirpur grid, electricity demand stood at 250MW against a supply of 210MW, leaving a 40MW shortfall.
At the Kadda grid, electricity demand stood at 110MW against a supply of 75MW. NLDC imposed 15MW of load-shedding, while feeder shutdowns (F/S) due to busbar overloading accounted for another 20MW.
According to data from the electricity office, the Summit Power Plant supplied 9MW, while United Power supplied no electricity.
On Wednesday, total electricity demand in areas under the jurisdiction of Dhaka Palli Bidyut Samity-1 stood at 515MW, against a total supply of 423MW. The total NLDC load-shedding was 72MW, while 20MW was attributed to overloading.
