Dhaka, May 20 -- Bangladesh's steel manufacturers on Tuesday warned that any further increase in electricity prices could push many factories towards closure, worsen unemployment and severely disrupt the country's infrastructure development activities.

The warning came at a press conference organised by the Bangladesh Steel Manufacturers Association (BSMA) at the Economic Reporters' Forum (ERF) in the capital, where the association also placed an eight-point charter of demands before the government and the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC).

Speaking at the briefing, BSMA President Mohammad Jahangir Alam said the steel industry was already under severe pressure due to rising energy costs, unstable business conditions and dec...