Dhaka: Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed today urged the opposition to form a national unity instead of engaging in a blame game to tackle the emerging energy crisis in the country. “We are very much sincere to discuss the energy situation in the parliament, and the ruling and the opposition should be united to face any such critical situation,” he stated.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the home minister made this appeal during a discussion on an urgent public importance notice on the energy crisis under section 68 of the rules of procedure, raised by opposition leader Dr. M Shafiqur Rahman of Dhaka-15 at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal presided over the session.
The home minister emphasized that the current energy situation does not constitute a crisis, as the government is managing it through controlled and balanced measures. He noted that law enforcement agencies are taking strict action against illegal hoarding and smuggling of energy commodities. He further highlighted that continuous monitoring by law enforcement, local administration, the energy department, and the Prime Minister has prevented serious disorder.
Rejecting claims of an energy crisis, Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud attributed the situation to a vested interest group creating an artificial crisis to form an informal fuel energy market. He assured that the country’s energy stock is satisfactory, with adequate supplies of diesel, octane, and petrol, emphasizing that the supply has increased compared to the previous year.
The minister detailed the latest fuel energy stock, including 1.32 lakh tonnes of diesel, 25,423 tonnes of octane, and 18,440 tonnes of petrol, among others. He also noted significant increases in daily fuel supply, with diesel supply up by 37.5 percent and petrol and octane supplies increased by 33 percent and 26 percent, respectively.
Addressing the long queues at petrol pumps, the energy minister explained that the queues do not indicate a crisis, attributing them to unscrupulous traders creating an informal market. He also discussed the LPG gas cylinder price hike, explaining that the price is controlled by the Energy Regulatory Commission due to the previous government’s privatization.
State Minister for Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit credited the government’s responsible decisions for stabilizing the country’s energy supply situation. He detailed the global price hikes, with diesel increasing from US$ 88 to US$ 160 per barrel, and emphasized that Bangladesh has coordinated fuel prices comparatively lower.
Opposition leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman called for a common platform to resolve the energy crisis, urging joint efforts between the government and opposition. He stressed the need for transparency in presenting the real energy situation to the public, criticizing the government’s previous attempts to obscure the issue.
Opposition lawmakers Masud Parvez, Atiqur Rahman Mujahid, and Saiful Alam also participated in the discussion, echoing calls for collective action to address the energy challenges.