Bangladesh Parliament Debates Energy Crisis, Eyes 2030 Solution
Bangladesh’s Parliament held a key discussion on Monday about the country’s severe energy and gas crisis. Lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties shared their views on how to solve this urgent problem. They all agreed that past mistakes have led to the current energy shortages.
Members of the ruling party blamed misguided policies, corruption, and poor management from earlier times. They stated the government aims to provide some relief by 2027. More relief is planned for 2028. The goal is to end the energy crisis completely by 2030.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed explained that the crisis is partly global. He also said previous governments left many problems. He mentioned difficulties with power plant capacity charges. The minister noted that some power deals, like the one with Adani, cannot be cancelled easily. He asked the opposition to be patient as the government works on solutions.
State Minister for Power Aninda Islam outlined the government’s plans. These include short-term, medium-term, and long-term actions. He spoke about efforts to find more gas in deep sea areas. The government is also drilling 30 new gas wells, with a target of 150 by 2031. Plans are also in place to bring in more liquefied natural gas (LNG) through new terminals. The minister stressed the importance of renewable energy too.
Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman also agreed that past problems contributed to the crisis. However, he also criticized the current government. He spoke about corruption, slow decisions, and a lack of responsibility. Mr. Rahman offered help from the opposition’s technical experts. He asked the government to form a joint task force with both ruling and opposition members to find solutions.
Another opposition lawmaker, Md Nazibur Rahman, highlighted issues like corruption and poor planning. He called for increasing local gas production. He also suggested keeping coal-fired power plants working. Mr. Rahman proposed creating an “energy emergency cell” for better management. He urged for clear investigations into any suspected payment problems for power plants or LNG purchases.
Both sides stressed the need for quick and effective measures. The government hopes to solve the energy crisis completely in the next few years. The opposition called for more cooperation and transparency to achieve this national goal.
