Tarique Vows to Resolve Gas Crisis Amid Years of Neglect

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman acknowledged that Bangladesh is facing severe gas and electricity shortages, but assured the public that his government is working to resolve the issues through immediate and long-term measures.

The crisis has affected households and industries due to the country's battered economy and years of mismanagement in the energy sector. Rebuilding a sector 'devastated by years of looting' will naturally take time, he said.

Tarique Rahman alleged that the previous government treated the energy sector as a means of plundering, leaving it in a fragile state after years of corruption and mismanagement. He claimed that discussions have begun with Myanmar to import natural gas and talks are underway with Malaysia's Petronas to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) through a container-based transportation system.

The Prime Minister said ensuring gas supply to industries would significantly improve the situation, as it could add around 4,000 megawatts of electricity to the national grid within three to four hours if eight power plants currently unable to operate due to fuel shortages were supplied with gas.