The Energy Ministry has reportedly decided to not provide new gas connections from April 2021 to industries outside the industrial parks and economic zones, which has drawn mixed reactions from entrepreneurs and business leaders in Bangladesh.
According to reports, the Energy and Mineral Resources Division issued a circular in this direction of 5 October which underlined that to ensure planned industrialisation the Government has decided to not provide any new gas connections to industries outside the economic zones, from 31 March next year.
Many business leaders, however, felt such a move could pose hurdle towards industrialisation.
The President of the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), Mohammad Ali Khokon, reportedly maintained that he was in favour of the move and added that the ‘Government’s decision on planned industrialisation is vital’.
He also said that former BTMA President and Managing Director of Malek Spinning Mills, A. Matin Chowdhury, on his part welcomed the Government decision but this would need time as the economic zones were not yet ready and small businesses cannot run their units in such specialised areas.
Mohammad Ali Khokon also reportedly underlined that investment will be affected as economic zones are not ready to set up industrial plants.
Meanwhile, speaking to the media, DCCI (Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry) President, Shams Mahmud, reportedly called upon the Government to reconsider the decision while adding ‘we also want planned industrialisation, but some risks are there’.
The DCCI President further reportedly added that private economic zones could charge abnormal prices for land and other services.
They will be in trouble due to this decision, Shams Mahmud reportedly added further while underlining that entrepreneurs cannot buy land from them.
