Dhaka, March 6 -- Production at four state-owned urea fertiliser factories has been suspended for 15 days due to a gas shortage linked to global energy supply concerns amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

The Shahjalal Fertilizer Company Limited is currently the only one of the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation's (BCIC) five plants in operation.

"Among our five urea fertiliser factories, only Shahjalal is operating, while the other four are closed," BCIC Director (Production and Research) Moniruzzaman said on Friday.

The state-run plants are Ghorashal-Polash Fertilizer, Shahjalal Fertilizer, Chattogram Urea Fertilizer, Jamuna Fertilizer, and Ashuganj Fertilizer and Chemical Company.

Besides these, the privately ru...