A coalition of workers, employees, and officers from Bangladesh’s spinning industry has appealed to the government for urgent intervention to avert what they describe as a looming sector-wide collapse. The appeal was made during a press conference held on Thursday (11 December), where industry representatives highlighted the escalating economic pressures facing the sector.
Speakers warned that rising production costs—fueled by increased gas and electricity tariffs, high bank interest rates, and shrinking global orders—have pushed many spinning mills into severe financial trouble.
Data from the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) revealed that nearly 40 factories have already shut down, with several remaining closed for more than two years. Over the past three years, the sector has recorded an average of 45 to 48 days of production shutdown annually, signaling chronic instability.
To ease the crisis, industry leaders urged the government to reverse the recent 10% gas price hike, cut electricity tariffs by 30%, restore subsidies, and waive power bills for the next two months. Additional demands included ensuring uninterrupted cotton supply at ports, reducing import duties on spare parts, providing special loan restructuring facilities, and offering a 50% cash incentive for modernization.
The coalition stressed that without immediate action, the livelihoods of thousands of workers and their families could be at stake. They called on the government to act swiftly to safeguard the future of Bangladesh’s spinning industry.
