The gas-run factories in the Tongi BSCIC area have been facing the shortage of gas for the last six months. But with the coming of winter the problem has been compounded, as there is a huge shortfall in production of gas against the increasing demand.

The spiralling cost of production due to the gas crisis had forced many of the factory owners to cut production by 70 to 80 percent.

Factory officials in Tongi BSCIC area alleged that they had informed the Titas Gas Limited of their crisis several times but to no effect.

Some factories in the area have already suspended their production while some are considering suspending the production.

"We cannot pay our workers wages regularly as we had to cut our production by 70 percent," said Abul Hossain, factory manager of National Glass Industry.

"For the last two weeks, there has virtually been no supply of gas other than on Fridays," said Abul Hossain.

Currently the gas supply has dropped to two pounds per square inch (PSI) against the requirement of 15 PSI.

"There are 500 workers in this factory. But we cannot give them salary regularly due to drastic production cut," Hossain added.

He said the Titas Gas authorities earlier said that the gas crisis would be eased by the end of the year 2004, but the situation has worsened.

Referring to the irregular payment of wages, Nurunnabi, a worker of the same factory attributed the situation to gas crisis.

"I have been working in this factory for the last one and half years on a monthly wage of Tk 1200. But in last few months our wages have become very irregular and now we are afraid that we might lose our jobs any moment if the gas crisis continues," he added.

Tongi BSCIC industrial area houses 90 factories that are run by gas. National Glass Industry, Jupiter Glass Factory, Dhaka Ceramic, Khawja Re-rolling Mill and Northern Corporation are the major gas-run factories.

Despite repeated attempts, engineer M Abdullah, managing director of Titas Gas Limited, could not be reached for his comment.