Category: Energy and Power

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 recently.

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.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo met with US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen at the Secretariat recently to discuss issues of mutual interest. State Minister Sheikh Faridul Islam was also present during the meeting. During the discussion, the minister highlighted the need for stronger international cooperation to enhance Bangladesh’s efforts in forest conservation and climate change adaptation. He sought US support particularly in waste management, water pollution control, and air pollution reduction, stressing the importance of technology transfer, training programmes, capacity building, and investment. The US ambassador underscored the importance of coordinated initiatives between the two countries on areas of shared interest, including forest conservation and prevention of wildlife traf?cking.

Bangladesh’s energy crisis did not begin with the Iran-US-Israel war. The country was already struggling with a severe shortage of primary fuel, while the challenge of managing rising summer electricity demand had become increasingly dif?cult. The BNP-led alliance government was expected to come prepared with a clear strategy.

instead, it appeared the new administration underestimated both the scale and complexity of the crisis, which was further intensi?ed by the damaging con?ict in the Arab and Gulf regions.

as fuel prices surged in the volatile global market and the Strait of Hormuz disruption threatened supply chains, Bangladesh’s ability to procure fuel came under serious pressure.

the government should have taken carefully planned contingency measures in consultation with all relevant stakeholders.

instead, acting largely on bureaucratic advice, it imposed fuel rationing that sent the wrong signals to consumers.

this triggered panic buying, disrupted the normal fuel supply chain from depots to pumps, and encouraged illegal hoarding by pro?teering syndicates.

the damage was already done before the government realized its mistake and withdrew the rationing policy. Long queues of anxious buyers are still visible at fuel stations. Restricted fuel supply affected transport, disrupting the movement of essential commodities. Farmers suffered from inadequate diesel and electricity for irrigation, ?shermen were unable to take their trawlers to sea, and fertilizer factories shut down due to gas shortages.

even then, nearly 50% of gas-based power generation capacity remained idle during peak summer demand.

this resulted in severe nationwide loadshedding during intense heat waves.

energy and electricity prices, which should have been adjusted gradually by the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC), were delayed until the government reached a point of no return.

eventually, the new government conceded to opposition demands and agreed to form a parliamentary committee to assess the situation and recommend an appropriate response to confront the crisis. Present Situation Bangladesh’s power and energy sector management remains almost entirely under bureaucratic control.

energy analysts observe that poor management and weak sectoral governance are largely responsible for the failure to anticipate the depth of the crisis. Successive governments neglected the exploration and development of domestic fuel resources such as gas and coal. While policymakers frequently discussed renewable energy, little meaningful action was taken to increase the contribution of solar, wind, and biomass in the energy mix. Signi?cant reserves of high-quality coal remain untapped despite being located at mineable depths.

experts also point to strong potential for unexplored petroleum resources both onshore and offshore.

even the discovered gas reserves of Bhola Island remain largely unused.

instead of developing domestic resources, governments-often in?uenced by opportunistic energy syndicates-opted for increasing dependence on imported fuel and electricity.

the risks of relying too heavily on imports were ignored, despite repeated warnings from analysts and experts.

they consistently cautioned that the volatility of the global fuel market would create major challenges for Bangladesh’s fragile economy and that regional or global con?icts could disrupt supply chains, exactly as is happening now. Bangladesh currently has an installed grid power generation capacity of over 29,000 MW. Previous governments spent billions expanding power transmission and distribution networks across the country.

unfortunately, they failed to ensure sustainable fuel supply.

as a result, the power system has been unable to consistently generate even 16,000 MW, leaving nearly 45% of installed capacity idle.

at the same time, the government continues to bear the heavy burden of capacity payments. Massive subsidies have been paid to both the power and energy sectors. BPDB and Petrobangla have almost become ?nancially crippled while trying to meet payment obligations to fuel suppliers and electricity producers.

experts had long warned about the need to prepare for the summer peak demand of 2026. BPDB projected a peak demand of 18,500 MW. Gas supply constraints were already well known. For this reason, experts recommended maximizing the use of the country’s 7,000 MW coal-?red power generation capacity.

there were also repeated suggestions to import coal on time. However, due to shortages in coal availability, it is currently impossible to generate more than 4,000 MW from coal during peak demand. Petrobangla, through gas rationing for fertilizer plants and staggered supply to industries, can manage only 950-1,000 MMCFD of gas supply to the power sector.

this allows a maximum generation of around 6,500-7,000 MW. Power imports from the Adani plant may also face disruption because the government owes substantial unpaid bills to the Adani Group.

a similar problem exists with private sector liquid fuel-based peaking plants.

as a result, it is now dif?cult to consistently generate even 15,000 MW. Power de?cits of 2,500-3,000 MW have already created severe suffering across the country.

austerity and ef?cient use can provide only limited relief.

the real burden will continue to come from poor management of the power and energy sector. Why Has the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Been Delayed? Experts are raising legitimate questions about why the commissioning of the 2×1,200 MW Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant has been delayed. Was the interim government truly committed to expediting the completion of the remaining plant work and associated evacuation facilities on time? What exactly happened during the ?re at the cargo village of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, where some critical equipment for the Rooppur project was reportedly destroyed? Was it simply an accident, or an act of sabotage? Even the availability of just 1,200 MW of nuclear electricity would have signi?cantly helped manage the current power crisis.

it is believed that fuel loading will proceed as planned and the plant may be ready for commissioning by the end of 2026. However, there must be no unnecessary haste. Nuclear power must be synchronized with the national grid with the highest level of caution and technical discipline. Why Is Renewable Energy Development Not Gaining Momentum? The government must professionally examine why renewable energy development has failed to gain the expected momentum.

the caretaker government canceled several concluded contracts and negotiations for solar power projects without properly assessing the consequences. During its 18 months in of?ce, very little progress was made in advancing energy transition.

experts believe the government must create strong incentives for private sector investment in renewable energy. Import duties and taxes on solar equipment should be waived for at least ?ve years. SREDA should be made the single-point contact for investors.

a dedicated government agency should be assigned to ensure quality control of solar panels, inverters, and batteries.

the private sector should also be encouraged to establish solar equipment manufacturing plants in Bangladesh. Local banks should offer soft loans to investors.

the government should develop land and lease it to investors for solar projects while also investing in power evacuation facilities. Fiscal and ?nancial incentives should be extended to rooftop solar installations as well.

even if Bangladesh cannot achieve 10,000 MW of solar generation, it should realistically be able to add at least 5,000- 6,000 MW by 2030.

there was also an initiative for offshore wind development involving a Danish agency and Summit International, which was later canceled by the caretaker government.

that initiative deserves immediate review.

at the same time, Bangladesh must carefully plan for grid integration of variable renewable energy (VRE). Where feasible, renewable energy should be used through distributed generation systems such as mini-grids and microgrids for local supply. Managing Summer Demand in 2026 The immediate challenge is to manage the crisis from now until October. Petrobangla must ensure a consistent supply of 1,000 MMCFD of gas to the power sector to support at least 7,000 MW of gas-based generation. Yet current gas-based generation remains around only 5,200-5,500 MW. More fuel-ef?cient power plants must be prioritized strictly on merit.

the government must ensure that all coal-?red plants maintain suf?cient buffer stock so they can operate at full capacity throughout the summer.

at least 6,000 MW of coal-based generation should remain consistently available. Payment disputes with power exporters, including the Adani Group, must be resolved quickly to secure at least 2,000 MW of imported electricity.

together, these steps could ensure a minimum of 15,000 MW of power supply during peak summer demand.

additionally, 2,000 MW of liquid fuelbased peaking plants should remain ready for peak shaving purposes. Payments to private sector power producers must be made regularly to ensure uninterrupted operation.

at the same time, all efforts should be made to bring at least 600 MW of nuclear electricity online by the end of 2026. Power and energy professionals within BPDB, Petrobangla, and BPC must be allowed to work with proper authority and operational freedom. BERC must be allowed to function independently according to its legal mandate.

the Power Division and the Energy and Mineral Resources Division (EMRD) should focus on policymaking and administrative support, rather than interfering in operational management. Only then can Bangladesh begin to move from crisis management to genuine energy security

The government’s ongoing nationwide drive against illegal fuel stockpiling has recovered a total of 576,993 liters of petroleum products in 49 days up to April 21, according to the Energy Division Bangladesh.

an of?cial statement said 11,197 mobile courts, led by executive magistrates, have been conducting operations across the country since March 3 to stabilize the fuel supply system amid the ongoing energy crisis linked to Middle East tensions. During the operation, authorities recovered 390,209 litres of diesel, 40,846 liters of octane, 97,438 liters of petrol, and 48,500 liters of furnace oil.

the drive also resulted in 4,053 cases being ?led, with 54 individuals receiving sentences for illegal stockpiling of petroleum products.

additionally, the mobile courts collected ?nes amounting to Tk 1,80,96,115 during the period.

Gas supply from the LNG terminal at Moheshkhali has resumed after a recent sixhour disruption caused by a technical fault, offering relief to consumers already facing low pressure amid a broader energy squeeze.

of?cials said the ?oating storage and regasi?cation unit (FSRU), operated by Excelerate Energy, went of?ine, halting regasi?ed LNG (RLNG) supply to the national grid.

the fault was repaired later, allowing gas supply to resume, according to a statement from Petrobangla.

the temporary shutdown had led to a drop of roughly 400 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) in gas supply, worsening pressure in areas under Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited, including parts of Dhaka and key industrial belts.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam has called for enhanced Japanese investment in key sectors including renewable energy, ICT, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, agro-processing and manufacturing. The State Minister held a bilateral meeting with Japanese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Onishi Yohei on the sidelines of the ‘Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in Africa’ held in Dakar, Senegal on April 20, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They discussed expanding cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity, technology, skills development and peopleto-people exchanges.

the State Minister expressed appreciation for Japan’s continued support in addressing the Rohingya crisis and sought further assistance to facilitate their early and sustainable repatriation to Myanmar.

Bangladesh is advancing efforts to transform its construction sector through the development of a national Green Building Certi?cation Framework, known as DESH, aimed at promoting sustainable, climate-resilient, and resource-ef?cient buildings. The framework is being developed by the Housing and Building Research Institute (HBRI) with support from the United Nations Of?ce for Project Services (UNOPS), under the leadership of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works. DESH is part of a broader initiative titled ‘Transforming the Built Environment through Sustainable Materials in Bangladesh,’ re?ecting the country’s growing focus on sustainable development in the construction sector.

a recent stakeholder consultation marked a key milestone in the framework’s development.

the session brought together representatives from government, academia, and industry to validate technical aspects and contribute to the co-development of the certi?cation system.

The government has decided to introduce experimental load-shedding in the capital, Dhaka, to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply for irrigation in rural areas and reduce the urbanrural disparity in power distribution. State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit made the announcement in Parliament recently during a session chaired by Speaker Ha?z Uddin Ahmed. He said the initiative aims to ensure that farmers receive adequate electricity during the peak irrigation season so that agricultural production is not disrupted.

the minister acknowledged that public con?dence in government statements has weakened over time, but emphasized that the current administration remains committed to transparency and accountability. He attributed the ongoing power crisis to accumulated mismanagement in previous years, noting a gap between installed capacity and actual generation.

Bangladesh has secured a notable diplomatic achievement at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Paci?c, with a landmark resolution on sustainable bioeconomy adopted unanimously at its 82nd session in Bangkok.

the resolution, titled ‘Supporting the Transition towards a Sustainable Bioeconomy in Asia and the Paci?c,’ was initiated and led by Bangladesh under the guidance of Faqir Mahbub Anam, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology and Science and Technology.

of?cials described the adoption as a signi?cant step that reinforces Bangladesh’s growing role in shaping regional development priorities.

the resolution aligns with Bangladesh’s national development goals, emphasizing sustainable, innovation-driven, and inclusive economic growth.

it highlights the importance of circular economy practices, ef?cient resource utilization, and the application of science and technology to drive transformation.

Bangladesh is entering another dif?cult summer marked by rising temperatures, worsening loadshedding, and deep uncertainty in power supply. Despite having enough installed generation capacity, shortages of gas, coal, and imported fuel, combined with massive unpaid dues, have left much of that capacity idle. Rural communities, industries, and small businesses are bearing the heaviest burden. Without urgent action to secure fuel, clear arrears, improve ef?ciency, and strengthen long-term energy planning, power shortages will continue to disrupt economic growth and daily life.T he return of load-shedding after a long break feels like an old wound reopening.

as temperatures climb and heatwaves spread across the country, households, factories, and farms are once again being forced to plan their days around power cuts.

in cities, the inconvenience is frustrating; in rural Bangladesh, where outages last up to 16 hours, it is crippling.

this summer was always going to be dif?cult. But what makes the crisis more painful is that Bangladesh has enough installed power generation capacity on paper.

the real problem lies elsewhere – fuel shortages, unpaid bills, poor planning, and years of neglect in developing domestic energy resources. The result is a system that looks strong from the outside but struggles to keep the lights on when demand rises.

as temperatures rise, the electricity de?cit-and consequently loadshedding-is increasing. With the onset of heatwaves, the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) is struggling to meet electricity demand.

an analysis of demand and supply during the last two weeks of April shows that on April 22, total electricity demand over 24 hours reached 378 million kilowatt-hours (kwh).

against this, BPDB was able to supply only 326 million kwh, leaving a de?cit of around 53 million kwh.

in megawatt terms, peak evening demand on that day reached 16,647 MW, while supply stood at 14,467 MW. Daytime peak demand supply was 12,216 MW. During peak hours, loadshedding amounted to 2,180 MW.

although load-shedding had little impact in the capital, Dhaka, on that day, its effects were severe in rural areas.

according to media reports, rural regions experienced power outages lasting between 6 and 16 hours.

in particular, the impact was acute in the service areas of 80 rural electricity cooperatives under the Bangladesh Rural Electri?cation Board.

the electricity shortage has disrupted daily life and negatively affected industry and commerce.

it is reported that production in small and medium industries has been disrupted by up to 30% due to loadshedding. Similarly, production in the ready-made garment sector is claimed to have declined by 5-25%.

the Power Division has expressed regret over the electricity shortage and public suffering.

it stated that this summer will not be completely free of load-shedding, although the situation is expected to become tolerable from early May. However, many critics have blamed the newly formed government, arguing that power shortages have increased whenever the BNP has come to power, sometimes reaching extreme levels.

in reality, the current situation itself has made it dif?cult for the newly formed BNP government to ensure electricity supply. During this summer, peak electricity demand is projected to reach 18,500 MW.

in contrast, the country’s installed grid-connected capacity, including imports, stands at 28,494 MW. However, due to shortages of fuel supply, BPDB is struggling to generate an average of only 13,000 MW.

additionally, BPDB to generate up to 4,000 MW from HFO plants at peak times.

the current outstanding dues in the power sector amount to Tk 56,000 crore. BPDB’s inability to pay these dues has created a crisis in securing fuel supplies, especially coal and oil. Meanwhile, Petrobangla is currently unable to supply even half of the gas required to operate gas-based power plants, and this situation is unlikely to improve in the near future-in fact, it may worsen. Speaking at an event on the power crisis, Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Iqbal Hasan Mahmood, MP, stated that current loadshedding stands at around 1,200-1,500 MW, which is expected to decrease to 800-900 MW in early May. However, he emphasized that load-shedding will continue throughout the summer. He said, ‘This is not the fault of the current government.

the previous Awami League government severely weakened this sector through rampant corruption, establishing power plants without ensuring fuel supply, and creating massive arrears.

the interim government then pushed the sector into an ICU-like condition. We have started working to restore the sector’s health and ensure electricity supply to meet demand.’ He added that achieving this goal will not be easy.

the current outstanding dues in the power and energy sector amount to Tk 56,000 crore.

although efforts are underway to clear these dues, it will take time to restore normalcy. He also noted that the ongoing U.S.-Israel- Iran con?ict has further worsened the ?nancial crisis in the energy sector.

experts believe that ?awed policies in the power and energy sector are responsible for the current situation, where shortages persist despite having suf?cient installed capacity.

the main reason is the neglect of domestic energy resources-particularly gas and coal exploration and extraction-over the past 25 years. From 2009 to 2024, numerous power plants were established to ensure an uninterrupted electricity supply, raising total generation capacity to 28,494 MW-more than suf?cient for the country’s demand. However, between 2018 and 2020, over 2,000 MW of diesel- and furnace oil-based capacity was added unnecessarily, leading to excess capacity and forcing BPDB to pay high capacity charges. Moreover, while generation capacity increased, there was no planned effort to ensure a steady supply of gas and coal through domestic exploration or expansion of import infrastructure. Instead, the sector became increasingly import-dependent.

as a result, the country’s dependence on imported energy has risen sharply- from 25% in 2015 to about 59% currently-and continues to grow.

experts believe that, despite having suf?cient capacity, load-shedding is occurring mainly due to the inability to ?nance fuel supply. Former BERC member Engineer Mizanur Rahman believes that LNG import capacity is currently limited to 1,100 MMCFD, while domestic gas supply is also declining.

therefore, even with adequate ?nancing, it will not be possible to signi?cantly increase the gas supply.

as a result, the full capacity of coal-based power plants must be utilized.

at the same time, arrears in the electricity import sector must be reduced to ensure full supply. Sha?qul Alam, Lead Energy Analyst at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), Bangladesh, believes there is no alternative to ensuring ?nancing for coal imports. Due to coal shortages, less than 50% of total generation capacity was utilized in March. Former BUET dean Dr.

ijaz Hossain noted that there is no alternative but to provide ?nancing to ensure coal power plants operate at around 85% capacity.

although gas-based power capacity exceeds 12,194 MW, the current gas supply allows generation of only 5,200-5,500 MW.

there are no signs of gas supply improving between May and September. Petrobangla has stated that it is purchasing LNG from the spot market at double the price to supply up to 950 MMCFD for grid power. However, demand is around 2,200 MMCFD. Currently, total gas supply in the country, including RLNG, is about 2,600-2,700 MMCFD, while demand is at least 4,000 MMCFD. Including imports from Adani, total coalbased power capacity stands at 7,629 MW, of which 6,029 MW is installed domestically. Due to coal shortages, these plants have been operating below 50% load. Professor Ijaz believes that to minimize shortages during summer, coal power plants must operate at 85% capacity, which could generate 6,000-6,500 MW. Combined with gas-based generation, the total supply could reach around 12,000 MW.

ensuring at least 1,000 MW from imports would further help. With an additional 4,000 MW from furnace oil and other sources, the total supply could reach around 17,000 MW. However, if demand rises to 18,500 MW, as projected, load-shedding of at least 1,500 MW will be unavoidable. Some units of the Adani and Patuakhali coal power plants that were previously of?ine have now resumed production.

one unit of the Banshkhali SS Power plant is still of?ine but is expected to return soon. To fully utilize coal capacity, outstanding dues-including $669 million owed to Adani-must be gradually reduced.

at the same time, arrears to gasbased IPPs and joint venture plants are also signi?cant. For example, the Jera Meghnaghat power plant alone amounts to about $82 million.

on the other hand, the country’s furnace oil-based power plants have a total capacity of 5,634 MW, about 80% of which are privately owned.

outstanding dues to these plants exceed Tk 14,000 crore. Without the gradual repayment of these arrears, they will also be unable to import fuel oil.

in a conversation with Energy and Power, Bangladesh Independent Power Producers’ Association (BIPPA) President David Hasnat stated that BPDB currently owes its power plants an amount equivalent to nine months of unpaid bills.

as a result, operators are running out of capacity to import fuel oil. He noted that they have been raising this issue since the tenure of the interim government, but received no response. Instead, before leaving of?ce, the interim government imposed liquidated damages on domestic IPPs by violating power purchase agreements without settling outstanding payments. He added that they have requested the current government to clear arrears and resolve the liquidated damages issue. Otherwise, it will be dif?cult to supply electricity from furnace oil-based power plants in the coming months.

a review of power generation data shows that due to rainfall caused by a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal, the electricity de?cit has almost dropped to zero.

on April 27, the highest temperature in the country was 28.6°C.

on that day, total electricity demand over 24 hours was 262.09 million kilowatt-hours, while supply reached 261.83 million kilowatt-hours, leaving a negligible de?cit of just 0.26 million kilowatt-hours. During this time, furnace oil-based generation accounted for only 2% of the supply. However, on April 26, when the maximum temperature was 34°C, total demand rose to 308 million kilowatt-hours, while supply was 298 million kilowatt-hours, resulting in a de?cit of 10 million kilowatthours.

on April 22, when the temperature reached 35.4°C, demand surged to 378 million kilowatt-hours, while supply was only 326 million kilowatt-hours, leaving a de?cit of 53 million kilowatt-hours. On that day, 10% of electricity had to be generated from furnace oil, signi?cantly increasing overall generation costs.

this relationship between temperature and demand must be considered in summer management.

once temperatures exceed 35°C, electricity demand rises sharply.

although the peak demand in April was 16,647 MW, only 14,467 MW could be generated.

this means that even though demand was below BPDB’s projected peak, load-shedding remained severe.

engineer Sha?qul Alam believes that once temperatures rise above 35°C, the country’s cooling load increases signi?cantly, leading to higher de?cits.

the World Meteorological Organization has indicated that an El Niño event is active, which will also affect Bangladesh.

as a result, temperatures may exceed 40°C, making it dif?cult to predict how much the power de?cit can be reduced during heatwaves.

the Power Division has stated that planned load-shedding will be implemented nationwide. Previously, when rural areas faced up to 16 hours of load-shedding, Dhaka remained largely unaffected.

at that time, State Minister for Power Anindya Islam Amit informed the National Parliament that instructions had been given to implement load shedding in Dhaka as well, and this policy is now being followed. However, the Power Division’s claim that load-shedding will be limited to 800-900 MW from early May has not reassured consumers. Sector insiders believe that load-shedding may remain tolerable only when temperatures are moderate.

if temperatures rise or heatwaves intensify, BPDB will struggle to manage the de?cit.

experts believe there is no quick solution to address the fuel supply shortage for power generation. However, BPDB must take steps to increase coal supply, ensure emergency oil imports, and maintain electricity imports.

the only way to achieve this is to start clearing arrears.

indeed, all arrears cannot be cleared quickly, and returning to normal conditions will take time.

this will require either increased subsidies or a reduction in BPDB’s losses. Professor Ijaz Hossain believes that the three-year roadmap taken during the Awami League period to align electricity production costs with selling prices should be followed. Recently, BPDB proposed increasing the wholesale electricity tariff by Tk 1.20 per unit from the current Tk 7.04.

at the consumer level, a proposal has been made to increase tariffs by Tk 1.80 per unit for higher-end users. Currently, the production cost per unit of electricity is Tk 12.10, while BPDB’s annual losses stand at Tk 52,000 crore.

ijaz suggests that 50% of the gap between production cost and wholesale price should be addressed through tariff increases within one year. The remaining 50% should be adjusted through reducing waste, corruption, and inef?ciencies, alongside improving operational ef?ciency. Both measures must be implemented simultaneously.

it is worth noting that a Tk 1.0 increase in wholesale tariff per unit would reduce BPDB’s annual losses by Tk 10,000 crore. Summer is still far from over, and for millions of people, that means more nights without fans, more sleepless heat, and more uncertainty for homes, farms, and factories.

until September, managing electricity demand will require more than temporary ?xes. The government must begin clearing overdue payments, keep power plants running at full possible capacity, and ensure load-shedding is planned fairly so that the burden does not fall only on rural communities and small businesses. But solving this crisis is not only about surviving one summer. Bangladesh must also prepare for the years ahead by reducing unnecessary electricity use through better cooling systems, ef?cient appliances, and smarter energy management.

increasing domestic gas and coal supply will take time, so for now, expanding LNG import capacity through additional FSRUs remains unavoidable to handle peak demand.

at the same time, stronger transmission and distribution systems are essential so that electricity generated actually reaches consumers without frequent outages. The country must also move faster on solar power. Raising grid-connected solar capacity from 777 MW to at least 2,000 MW would reduce costly dependence on furnace oil during daytime demand.

the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant also carries major importance.

if its ?rst unit can supply at least 300 MW from August and begin commercial operation before March next year, it will provide muchneeded relief. Bringing the second unit online before summer 2028 would further strengthen long-term energy security. Rescuing BPDB from its growing debt and ?nancial losses will not be easy. But delaying hard decisions will only make the problem more expensive and painful. Without decisive action now, load-shedding will become not just a seasonal problem, but a permanent obstacle to daily life, industrial growth, and Bangladesh’s economic future