Buyers are suspending purchase orders over fears of an energy crisis, heading to India: BCI President

Anwar-ul Alam Chowdhury, President of the Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI), expressed grave concerns on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, regarding a looming crisis in the RMG sector due to acute energy shortages.

During a pre-budget discussion with the NBR, he warned that international buyers are diverting orders to countries like India out of fear that Bangladesh will run out of fuel within the next few months.

Despite efforts from local buying offices, top management of major brands remains hesitant to place orders for the July-August season.

Additionally, business leaders criticized the current 1% minimum tax and the broad powers of tax officials under the Income Tax Act 2023, calling for a more business-friendly tax structure to prevent the collapse of small and medium enterprises amidst this economic instability.