Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has recommended raising the bulk electricity price by nearly 58 per cent even as such a move would hit the industries hard.
Speaking to the media, Managing Director of Cute Dress Industry Ltd., Sheikh HM Mostafiz, maintained a garment factory has to spend around 4 per cent of the total operational cost as electricity bill and the implementation of the suggested rate would only increase the challenge for the industry, which is already reeling under increased raw material and freight costs while Executive President of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) Mohammad Hatem, on his part, added power suppliers have already disconnected a number of factory connections for failing to pay electricity bills on time.
Reports further added state-owned Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) sought a 65.57 per cent hike in power tariff earlier even as the BERC has recommended raising the bulk electricity price by nearly 58 per cent.