If Long March Solved Energy Crisis, We’d Organise It: PM

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said that if a long march could solve the country’s gas and electricity crisis, his government would have been the first to organise one.

“If a long march could solve the gas or electricity problem, we would have organised it ourselves before anyone else,” he said in his concluding speech at the third session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad on Thursday.

The Prime Minister said the energy situation became more difficult after a war broke out in the Middle East just 10 to 12 days after his government was formed following the election.

The conflict disrupted imports of oil and gas from the Middle East, creating additional pressure on Bangladesh’s energy supply, he said.

Rahman also pointed to an accident involving one of the country’s two floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs), which further aggravated the situation.

He said an electrical short circuit caused an accident at one of the FSRUs, completely disrupting gas supplies from the facility.

“This added another problem to the existing situation. That is why people across the country are currently having to endure hardship over gas and electricity,” he said.

The government has been taking measures to address the energy crisis, including increasing domestic gas production, expanding LNG import capacity and exploring new gas fields. The government has also outlined longer-term plans for the power and energy sectors.

Rahman earlier said the government plans to drill 150 wells, intensify onshore and offshore exploration and add new LNG terminals to strengthen energy security and reduce the impact of gas shortages on industries.