Factories struggling to operate at full capacity amid fuel shortage: BKMEA president

Factories are struggling to run at their full production capacity in the absence of required fuel, Mohammad Hatem, president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), said on Saturday.

“Right now, energy shortage is one of the biggest problems. Government is saying that there is no shortage or crisis of fuel; the reality is that we are not getting it in filling stations,” he said.

Factories are facing two to three hours of load-shedding daily in working time, while units located at Gazipur and other areas under Palli Bidyut even face up to seven hours of load-shedding, the BKMEA president alleged.

In many cases, factories are unable to procure fuel as filling stations are not allowed to supply fuel in containers.

As a result, they are running factories below their production capacity, he said, demanding an uninterrupted energy supply for industries.

The BKMEA leader was speaking at a press conference yesterday organised at a city hotel to brief about the upcoming expo amid the global crisis, including war and trade tension, which have eaten up consumers’ demand.

A four-day Bangladesh International Textile, Knitting and Garment Industry Exhibition (BTKG Expo 2026) will begin in Dhaka on April 29, Hatem said.

The exhibition will be held at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in the capital and will continue until May 2.

Replying to another question, Hatem said the current business situation is ‘very poor’ and that many factories have already shut down due to a lack of cooperation from the banking sector, with more at risk of closure.

He alleged exporters are facing difficulties in opening letters of credit, conducting import-export operations, and accessing credit facilities.

Complexities in customs procedures and, in some cases, arbitrary practices are hindering trade, the BKMEA leader noted.

The exhibition is being jointly organised by BKMEA and Inforchain Digital Technology Co Ltd.
Organisers said more than 1,000 exhibitors from around 30 countries are expected to participate in the show, which will display machinery and new technology at around 1800 booths.

Companies from Bangladesh as well as Canada, China, Taiwan, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates will showcase their products and technologies at the exhibition.