Bangladesh Eyes Myanmar Gas Pipeline Imports Amid Rising Demand

Bangladesh is exploring opportunities to import natural gas from Myanmar through a cross-border pipeline to meet its rising energy demand. Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Iqbal Hassan Mahmood met with Myanmar Ambassador U Kyaw Soe Moe at the Secretariat in Dhaka on Saturday to discuss the proposal.

The minister emphasized that enhancing energy cooperation with neighboring countries remains a key priority under the government's 'Neighbours First' foreign policy. The Myanmar ambassador welcomed the proposal and suggested exploring the possibility of liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies alongside the pipeline project.

Discussions also revived a long-standing proposal to construct a gas pipeline from Myanmar to Chattogram, which would supply natural gas to industrial zones in southeastern Bangladesh. To move forward with the initiative, Mahmood proposed holding ministerial-level talks and invited Myanmar's energy minister to visit Dhaka.