Re-fix fuel price to save RMG sector: BGMEA

Expressing grave concern over the latest round of fuel price hike, BGMEA leaders on Wednesday urged the government to decrease the fuel price to save the country's readymade garment sector which is earning 76 percent of total export income."If the government does not re-fix the fuel price responding to our call, we will have to shutdown our garments industries and factories. As most of the time garments industries face serious power outage, so these industries have to depend on the diesel-fired generators. It will be impossible for us to continue to run our industries and factories by diesel-fired generators due to recent price rise of fuel oil. They said, "Right now, we will have to think alternative business instead of producing ready made garments. We are frustrated about how we shall continue our business" BGMEA acting President told reporters at a press conference held in city.He said maximum garments industry in our country do not get electricity supply according to their demand. Each factory is working ten hours every day. But power supply is disrupted at least five or six hours daily. To makeup this shortage the factory owners are using diesel-fired generators. He said at present about 2,800 ready made garment industries are running under BGMEA. Everyday they use at least 400 liter diesel. Due to recent diesel price rise, expenditure on production will increase by Taka 50 crore monthly and Taka 600 crore annually.Transportation cost will increase to a large extent and it will hike production expenses as 8,07839 covered vans are used to transport raw materials and ready made garments to and from Chittagong Port from Dhaka and Chittagong. Expenditure on transportation will rise by Taka100 crore per year due to diesel price surge.