DHAKA, Aug 4, 2026 - Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said his government is pursuing both immediate and long-term measures to overcome Bangladesh’s ongoing gas and electricity crisis, acknowledging the hardships facing households and industries due to fuel shortages.
Speaking at a discussion in Dhaka on Tuesday, the Prime Minister said the government is fully aware of the country’s energy challenges and is working to restore stability in the sector.
“We are not trying to make excuses. The problems exist, and we are working continuously to resolve them through both short-term and long-term initiatives,” he said.
Tarique Rahman said the government has initiated discussions with Myanmar on importing natural gas and is also negotiating with Malaysia’s state-owned energy company, Petronas, to secure LNG supplies through a container-based transportation system.
Referring to his recent visit to Malaysia, he said he had sought cooperation from Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, adding that Petronas held a virtual meeting with Bangladeshi officials on Monday and discussions had made significant progress. According to the Prime Minister, the company is exploring the possibility of supplying LNG to Bangladesh by October despite its existing long-term commitments.
He said additional LNG imports would help restore gas supplies to industries, easing production disruptions and supporting economic recovery.
The Prime Minister also revealed that the government is working to resume operations at around eight gas-fired power plants currently lying idle due to fuel shortages.
“If gas can be supplied to these plants, nearly 4,000 megawatts of electricity can be added to the national grid within three to four hours,” he said.
Highlighting the government’s longer-term strategy, Tarique Rahman said two drilling rigs will be procured for the Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company (BAPEX) to accelerate domestic oil and gas exploration. Exploration activities are already underway, and he expressed optimism that the country would benefit from increased domestic gas production in the coming years.
The Prime Minister said restoring reliable gas and electricity supplies remains one of the government’s top priorities, adding that sustained investment, expanded domestic exploration and stronger international energy cooperation will be essential to ensuring the country’s long-term energy security.
