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Businesses demand advance load-shedding schedule
Published : Sunday, 30 August, 2026 at 6:56 PM
Observer Online Report
Business leaders have called for a reliable and advance load-shedding schedule, saying it would help industries plan production amid the ongoing energy crisis.
They also urged the government to ensure long-term, predictable and affordable energy supplies to maintain the competitiveness of Bangladesh’s industries, with priority gas and electricity supply for industrial zones and export-oriented factories.
The demands were made at a roundtable titled ‘Bangladesh’s Power and Energy Challenges: Ensuring Reliable Infrastructure for an Improved Business Environment’ at the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) in Gulshan on Sunday.
Policy Exchange Bangladesh and MCCI organised the event with support from the Australian government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Participants discussed findings from the Bangladesh Business Index (BBX) 2024-25, which showed that the country’s business infrastructure score fell from 71.1 in FY2023-24 to 68.8 in FY2024-25.
According to the survey, 74.2 per cent of businesses reported facing power disruptions occasionally, while only 20.1 per cent said they had observed structural or regulatory initiatives to improve infrastructure.
Speakers said the gas crisis, low gas pressure, fuel shortages, power deficits and rising energy costs were affecting industrial production and investment planning. Power shortages exceeded 3,000MW in early August, while low gas pressure forced many factories to reduce or suspend production.
Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) President Shawkat Aziz Russell said the crisis reflected weaknesses in long-term planning and energy procurement. He called for urgent measures to protect export-oriented and energy-intensive industries and proposed a separate industrial energy policy.
LafargeHolcim Director and CEO Mohammad Iqbal Chowdhury said Bangladesh needed a long-term and predictable energy strategy for the next 10 to 20 years to protect industrial investment and ensure sustainable development.
Participants also stressed that gas was not only a source of energy but a key industrial raw material for some sectors. They said prolonged uncertainty over supply was threatening production, employment and new investment.
The participants called for priority energy supply to industrial and export-oriented factories and the publication of an advance and reliable load-shedding schedule to enable factories to plan their production.
The organisers said a policy paper combining BBX findings with immediate and long-term reform proposals would be prepared based on the recommendations of the roundtable.
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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
