The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has urged the government to cut all illegal gas connections in the country.

BGMEA President Faruque Hassan made the call in a meeting with Senior Secretary at Energy and Mineral Resources Division Md. Mahbub Hossain at the secretariat in Dhaka on April 24.

BGMEA Vice President Shahidullah Azim and Managing Director of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited Engr. Haronur Rashid Mullah were present at the meeting.

They discussed the present situation of the apparel industry, especially current demand and supply of natural gas in garment and textile industries and future demand scenario.  

BGMEA President Faruque Hassan said unauthorized gas connections deprive the government of a huge amount of revenue and also pose risk of fire accidents.

Moreover, illegal connections take a huge amount of gas supply, putting pressure on the main line and ultimately causing problems for the legal users including industrial sectors, he said.

Inadequate gas supply and low pressure disrupts industrial production, causing problem for the export-oriented industries, including garment and textile sectors which have to maintain lead time in shipping goods, he added.

Faruque Hassan assured the Senior Secretary of all-out cooperation of BGMEA to the government in its drive sever unauthorized gas connections, especially in the industrial zones.