Bangladesh’s Industry Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir informed the National Parliament that fertilizer factories cannot operate because of a gas shortage. He made the statement on Sunday while responding to a question from Jamalpur-4 lawmaker Faridul Kabir Talukdar regarding the full-capacity operation of the Jamuna Fertilizer Factory. The minister said the factory is production-ready but cannot run without sufficient gas supply.

Muktadir added that the government is considering creating a separate gas network for fertilizer factories to address the issue. In response to another question from Jamalpur-3 lawmaker Mostafizur Rahman Babul, the minister reported that 12 state-owned industrial units are currently closed, and operations at six state-owned sugar mills have been suspended. He also stated that 43 industrial factories in five BSCIC industrial estates in Chattogram have shut down over the past 17 years.

The minister’s remarks highlight ongoing challenges in ensuring adequate gas supply for industrial production, which continues to affect fertilizer and other state-owned manufacturing sectors.