Bangladesh's Gas Crisis Brings Industry to Standstill

The Ashuganj fertiliser factory in Bangladesh has been shut down since March 2025 due to a natural gas crisis, which has also forced six major urea fertiliser plants to close or restrict operations. The factory, once employing over 1,200 people and producing over 1,000 tonnes of fertiliser per day, now stands as a rusting shell. According to Md Bazlur Rashid, who spent his entire working life at the factory, 'Only the skeleton of the factory remains. It has lost its life.'

The gas shortage is attributed to underinvestment in ageing fields and exploration, exacerbated by the US-Iran war disrupting imports from the Middle East. Bangladesh's energy minister, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, blamed the previous government for failing to drill new wells, leading to dependence on imports. However, experts say that investing in renewable energy is a long-term solution.

The consequences of the gas shortage extend beyond fertiliser production, with hundreds of factories cutting production or shutting down, including textile plants. Bangladesh is the world's second-largest garment exporter, accounting for 80% of the country's export earnings. The government has issued electricity-saving measures, but power cuts and blackouts continue to plague residents.