Dhaka: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday acknowledged the hardships people are facing due to ongoing gas and electricity shortages, saying the government is not trying to make excuses but is working continuously to resolve the problems through both immediate and long-term measures. Speaking at a discussion to mark the 2nd anniversary of the July mass uprising, he also detailed a series of initiatives to increase gas supply and restore electricity generation disrupted by years of neglect in the sector.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the Prime Minister emphasized the gravity of the situation without evading responsibility. “We are not trying to evade our responsibility by making excuses. The problems exist. We know that, and we want to address them,” he stated at the event organized by the BNP, titled “Seventeen Years of Relentless Struggle for Democracy and the Blood-soaked July Awakening,” held at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) in the capital. The meeting was chaired by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Tarique Rahman explained that the gas and power crisis has severely impacted households and industries due to the country’s battered economy and years of mismanagement in the energy sector. He acknowledged that rebuilding a sector devastated by years of looting will naturally take time. The Prime Minister accused the previous “fascist” government of exploiting the energy sector for plundering, leaving it in a fragile state after years of corruption and mismanagement.
Despite these challenges, Rahman assured that the government is making every effort, utilizing experience and expert advice, to bring the country out of the crisis. He revealed that discussions have commenced with neighbouring Myanmar to import natural gas as a measure to ease the shortage. Additionally, Bangladesh is in talks with Malaysia’s state-owned energy company, Petronas, to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) via a container-based transportation system.
The Prime Minister recounted his recent discussions with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Petronas officials, noting that progress is being made despite Petronas’s long-term commitments with Japan. Rahman expressed optimism that LNG supplies for Bangladesh could be arranged by October. “If we can ensure gas supply to our industries, it will significantly improve the situation,” he stated.
Moreover, the government is working to arrange gas supplies for around eight power plants currently idle due to fuel shortages. Rahman highlighted that if gas can be supplied to these plants, about 4,000 megawatts of electricity could be added to the national grid within three to four hours, addressing problems stemming from years of neglect and poor planning.
The Prime Minister criticized the Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company (BAPEX) for its inactivity over the past 17 years, with exploration largely left to foreign companies. To reverse this situation, the government plans to procure two drilling rigs for BAPEX to accelerate exploration in areas with potential gas and oil reserves. Rahman expressed hope that, although the exploration process will take time, positive results will emerge in the near future.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring uninterrupted electricity and gas supplies, aligning with the expectations of those who have sacrificed for the country, including participants in the Liberation War, democratic movements, and the July uprising. The discussion was also addressed by BNP leaders, associate organizations, and political allies involved in the simultaneous movement.