Industrial production in the country is gradually returning to normalcy as gas pressure and supply have improved, with manufacturers taking various initiatives, including extended working hours and production on holidays, to make up for the output shortfall caused by the gas crisis in recent months.

Industry entrepreneurs said the recent improvement in gas pressure and supply has brought relief to gas-dependent industries and created scope for increasing production.

However, to quickly recover the production losses accumulated during the crisis, many factories are now operating beyond regular working hours and maintaining production even on weekly holidays.

The global energy crisis had put pressure on electricity and gas supplies, affecting industries, agriculture and public life. In particular, reduced gas pressure and disruptions in supply hampered industrial production and forced entrepreneurs to bear additional fuel and operating costs.

Former BGMEA president S M Fazlul Hoque told BSS that although gas shortages had disrupted production at many factories in the past, production is now improving significantly with the better gas pressure and supply situation.

He said it was difficult to maintain a fully normal situation amid the global oil and energy crisis, but the government was working to maintain normalcy in different sectors, including electricity.

He expressed hope that production in the industrial sector would become more normal within a short time through joint efforts by the government and industry owners.

Chairman of leading apparel and textile manufacturer Reza Group, Shahid Reza Shimul, told BSS that production is gradually returning to normal as gas supply has improved.

He said entrepreneurs were taking various initiatives to make up for the production shortfall caused by low gas pressure and disruptions in supply.

“Workers are now working an additional two to three hours every day to make up for the production shortfall. Besides, production is also being maintained on Fridays, the weekly holiday,” he said.

He said the industries were trying to recover as much of the production shortfall as possible through the additional output.

Shahid Reza Shimul said factories had to use generators to keep production running when gas pressure was low or supply was disrupted, resulting in additional fuel costs and putting extra pressure on production management.

“Now that gas supply has returned to normal, that additional pressure is also easing,” he said.

Desh Group of Companies Director and BGMEA Vice-President Bidia Amrit Khan told BSS, “Our production situation is very good now. We were actually very worried. But through the collective efforts of the government, businesses and all concerned, we have been able to overcome the gas crisis and restore normal production at our factories.”

“With gas pressure remaining good, the situation is much better than before. InshaAllah, the production situation at our factories will improve further in the days ahead,” she said.

Industry stakeholders said continued improvement in gas pressure and supply would help increase industrial production further and gradually make up for the production shortfall created during the crisis.

They expressed the hope that coordinated efforts by the government and industry owners would help restore a fully normal production environment in the industrial sector within a short time.