Bangladesh’s industrial sector stands at a crossroads. The United States’ decision to impose a punitive 50 per cent reciprocal tariff on Indian goods has created a rare and lucrative opening for our exporters, particularly in the ready-made garment industry.
Our newspaper on Saturday reported that leading US retail giants such as Amazon, Walmart, Target, and GAP are scaling back orders from India.
In theory, this should be Bangladesh’s moment to capture a greater share of the world’s largest apparel market.
Yet, the reality on the ground tells a different story.
A crippling gas shortage has swept through our industrial major hubs, the very capacity needed to meet these potential new orders.
Factories are being forced to cut production by up to 35 per cent. Some plants receive no usable gas pressure during the day, compelling night-time operations at double the cost and forcing temporary worker layoffs.
The numbers are stark: daily demand for gas stands at 3,800 million cubic feet, yet supply lags by nearly 900 million cubic feet.
This deficit is not only hobbling textiles and garments but also crippling ceramics, steel, and other industries. The consequences – diminished investment, lost export earnings, and rising unemployment – are already visible.
Government assurances of improvement have so far failed to translate into tangible relief. While importing more liquefied natural gas is a welcome step, the pace of intervention must accelerate.
The clustering of factories into designated industrial zones, as urged by Petrobangla, could improve supply efficiency, but such structural changes are a long-term solution to an immediate crisis.
The urgency cannot be overstated. In a global market defined by speed, reliability, and competitiveness, delays can erode client confidence permanently.
Rivals are ready to step in, and the “Bangladesh advantage” may prove fleeting if the gas shortage is not swiftly addressed.
The government must treat this as a matter of national economic security. Emergency allocation of gas to export-oriented sectors, targeted subsidies for alternative fuels, and rapid expansion of LNG imports should be prioritised.
Without decisive action, the country risks squandering not only a commercial opportunity but also a historic chance to solidify its position as a global apparel leader.
Bangladesh has the orders waiting at its doorstep. The question is whether it can muster the energy – quite literally – to deliver.
