Dhaka: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday assured the people that the government will gradually resolve the ongoing gas and electricity crisis, urging the opposition to present the actual situation to the people instead of resorting to provocative behaviour. 'We are firmly hopeful that, Insha-Allah, we will be able to resolve the problems of gas and electricity over time and take the country and its people out of this crisis,' he said.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the Prime Minister made the remarks while delivering his winding-up speech at the third session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad. He emphasized that the government is working on longer-term solutions, highlighting that successful implementation of the solar power generation plan could enable Bangladesh to become not only consumers but also producers of solar power. Rahman acknowledged the challenges posed by the shortages of gas and electricity and attributed the crisis to Bangladesh's prolonged reliance on imported fuel.
The Prime Minister pointed out that, unlike neighboring countries extracting gas from offshore fields in the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh has not made similar efforts for over a decade, leading to a heavy dependence on imported energy. He noted that the situation worsened after a war broke out in the Middle East shortly after the current government's formation, disrupting oil and gas imports from the region. Additionally, the inoperation of one of Bangladesh's two floating LNG terminals due to an accident aggravated the crisis.
The government, Rahman stated, inherited these issues and is actively addressing them rather than avoiding responsibility. He criticized the previous government's reliance on quick rental power plants, which he claimed left the country heavily indebted without a lasting solution. The Prime Minister reiterated the government's commitment to finding sustainable solutions and urged cooperation from opposition lawmakers to present the actual situation to the public.
Rahman expressed confidence in overcoming the crisis based on the government's experience and commitment. He called for national interest to be prioritized over political differences, warning against provocative actions that could benefit "fallen, defeated and ousted fascist forces." The Prime Minister questioned the value of sacrifices made by thousands during the past 17 years if the current situation is misrepresented, urging all lawmakers to work together for the country's benefit.