The government has decided to resume gas supply to the Ashuganj fertilizer plant in Brahmanbaria from May 1, prioritizing agricultural needs despite ongoing energy constraints.
Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood announced the decision in Parliament on Thursday.
The move came after concerns were raised by lawmaker Rumeen Farhana, who noted that fertilizer production in Ashuganj had been halted due to gas shortages, affecting farmers in her constituency.
Responding to the issue, the minister said, “Although this may impact electricity generation, we have decided to supply gas to the fertilizer factory from May 1 considering the importance of agriculture.”
He acknowledged that Bangladesh has been facing a gas shortage since 2016, leading to reduced pressure and lower supply to households and industries. Currently, gas distribution is being managed primarily to keep industrial production running.
The minister also said the government is working to strengthen domestic gas exploration through BAPEX, with efforts underway to discover new reserves and revive production from abandoned wells.
He added that previous policies had increased reliance on imported energy and left significant unpaid liabilities. The current strategy focuses on boosting domestic gas production to meet rising demand and improve supply stability across sectors.
