Bangladesh Urged to Accelerate Gas Exploration Amid Prolonged Shortage

Economists are urging the government to accelerate domestic gas exploration to reduce the country's reliance on costly imports and expand supply. According to Khondaker Golam Moazzem, research director at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), the prolonged shortage of gas has hurt private investment, industrial output, and export competitiveness.

The recent disruption to gas supply from a floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal has made the situation worse, said Moazzem. He noted that higher LNG imports alone cannot close the supply gap in Bangladesh, which must recognise gas shortages as a structural challenge in the near term.

Masrur Reaz, chairman and chief executive officer of Policy Exchange Bangladesh, echoed this sentiment, stating that years of inadequate onshore and offshore gas exploration have left Bangladesh heavily dependent on imported LNG. He added that limited LNG import infrastructure has constrained gas supply, forcing many industries to operate below capacity.