[🇧🇩] Energy Security of Bangladesh

[Saif]

Energy adviser blames retailers and wholesale traders for high gas price

Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, adviser on power, energy and mineral resources, has blamed retail and wholesale traders for the recent unusual rise in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices. He said the surge is temporary and will ease gradually. He made the remarks in response to query while...

en.prothomalo.com

Energy adviser blames retailers and wholesale traders for high gas price

Staff Correspondent Dhaka
Published: 06 Jan 2026, 18: 47

Fouzul Kabir Khan, adviser on power, energy and mineral resources File photo

Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, adviser on power, energy and mineral resources, has blamed retail and wholesale traders for the recent unusual rise in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices. He said the surge is temporary and will ease gradually.

He made the remarks in response to query while speaking to newspersons following a meeting of the government procurement advisory committee at the secretariat Tuesday.

At the consumer level, the price of private-sector LPG has risen by Tk 4.42 per kilogram. For this January, the price of a 12-kg cylinder has been set at Tk 1,306. Last month (December 2025), it was Tk 1,253. This means the price of 12-kg cylinder has increased by Tk 53. The price increased by Tk 38 last month.

The adviser on power, energy, and mineral resources said mobile courts are being conducted against businesses that have raised LPG prices abnormally. Measures are also being taken to reopen shops that remain closed.


When asked whether those involved in the price manipulation have been punished, the energy adviser said yes, in many cases they have been. The operations are being carried out by the district administration, the police, and the Directorate of Consumer Rights Protection.

The energy adviser said information on LPG price hikes is being provided by the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC), adding, “We will see whether anyone at BERC is involved in this.”

Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan said some vessels are under restrictions and added, "We are trying to address the shipping issues for the future."

On the household gas shortage, he said, “There is local gas production, and imports are also made. Neither is lacking. It should be remembered that in winter, gas pipelines face problems, and even overseas pipelines are affected. This causes issues in gas supply. The planned amount of LNG is being brought in.”​

 

[Saif]

Ship anchor damages Titas gas line, supply in Dhaka may take days to normalise

A Titas gas pipeline running beneath the Buriganga River has been damaged after a ship’s anchor hit the line, disrupting supply to several areas of the capital, including Amin Bazar, Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Dhanmondi, Adabar, Azimpur, and Old Dhaka. Hundreds of thousands of residents have faced

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Ship anchor damages Titas gas line, supply in Dhaka may take days to normalise

bdnews24.com
Published :
Jan 08, 2026 00:01
Updated :
Jan 08, 2026 00:01

A Titas gas pipeline running beneath the Buriganga River has been damaged after a ship’s anchor hit the line, disrupting supply to several areas of the capital, including Amin Bazar, Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Dhanmondi, Adabar, Azimpur, and Old Dhaka.

Hundreds of thousands of residents have faced severe inconvenience since the incident on Sunday, struggling with limited gas for cooking and daily use.

Kazi Mohammad Saidul Hasan, general manager (Operations) at Titas Gas, told bdnews24.com on Wednesday night: “A line from Amin Bazar to Dhaka was hit under the Buriganga by a ship’s anchor. With the help of the Fire Service and relevant authorities, divers have been repairing it for four days.

“We completed the work this afternoon. Gas supply has resumed, but full normalisation will take time as the line pressure was previously depleted.”

He added, “The line was almost empty. We are restoring pressure gradually. Normally, with lower consumption, pressure recovers faster. But as it is a working day, usage is high and pressure is rising slowly. We expect normal flow by Friday or Saturday.

“If usage drops tonight, supply could normalise by Thursday morning. A gas shutdown in Uttara for maintenance, however, may delay full restoration across the city until Friday.”

In a separate statement, Titas said a clamp had been installed on the damaged line with support from the Fire Service, Bangladesh Coast Guard, River Police, and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA).

The line is currently supplying gas to the capital at a pressure of 25 pounds per square inch gauge (PSIG), with no external leakage detected.

While the city often faces gas shortages during winter, this specific pipeline fault has left stoves cold in most affected areas for three days. Residents said they have been unable to cook and are forced to rely on expensive restaurant food.

Abdul Hai, a resident of Mohammadpur Housing Society, said he has had to buy meals for the last two days as there is no gas in the pipes.

He noted that while pressure used to drop in the afternoons, the supply has been completely non-existent recently.

The crisis has driven up the price of electronics, with shops reporting an unusual spike in demand for induction hobs and electric cookers.

Akhira Islam, a resident of Adabor, described the unannounced outage as “inhumane”, adding that she was forced to buy an electric stove at an inflated price.

Long queues of vehicles have also been seen at CNG filling stations due to the low pressure.​

 

[Saif]

CA for setting up independent institution to conduct research on power, energy

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday instructed the authorities concerned to set up an independent institution for conducting research on power and energy sectors, saying that it must not operate under a ministry. “There must be a separate institution for research and developm

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

CA for setting up independent institution to conduct research on power, energy

BSS
Published :
Jan 07, 2026 21:39
Updated :
Jan 07, 2026 21:39

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday instructed the authorities concerned to set up an independent institution for conducting research on power and energy sectors, saying that it must not operate under a ministry.

“There must be a separate institution for research and development. It will not operate under a ministry. It will be a separate and strong entity, which will maintain communication with all relevant global institutions and support the government in policy formulation,” he said.

The Chief Adviser gave the instruction while presiding over a meeting on the Power and Energy Sector Master Plan 2026–2050 at the State Guest House Jamuna here this afternoon, said the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing.

At the outset of the meeting, the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources presented the Master Plan to the Chief Adviser.

The master plan aims to ensure reliable, affordable, and sustainable primary energy and electricity for the people of Bangladesh through optimal use of domestic resources, enhanced energy security, improved efficiency, and environmental responsibility.

Prof Yunus thanked all concerned for their detailed presentations, saying, “This sector is the lifeline of Bangladesh’s economy. If it becomes strong, the economy will stand firm. It affects the lives of every citizen.”

Noting that everything, what was done in the sector in the previous time, was fragmented, he said, “We must think everything from the beginning. Just because something has been done a certain way does not mean it must continue”.

Many projects were implemented in the wrong locations and with flawed structures, the Chief Adviser said, adding, “This must not be repeated. We have to ensure that everything will remain within a framework and rules. That’s why research centers are essential”.

Prof Yunus also instructed officials to conduct research on alternative energy sources.

Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, Commerce Adviser Sk. Bashir Uddin, Industries Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb and senior officials of the ministries concerned attended the meeting.

During the meeting, policy gaps in the previous three master plans were identified and briefly reviewed. Discussions were held on implementing the new master plan in three phases- Phase-I (2026–2030), Phase-II (2030–2040), and Phase-III (2040–2050).

Under the first-track priority projects from 2026 to 2030, plans include launching an offshore exploration round, boosting gas production, ensuring LNG supply security, expanding refinery capacity, and increasing strategic energy storage capacity.

Long-term strategic projects, including offshore gas development, large-scale refining and petrochemical industry expansion, development of hydrogen and ammonia infrastructure, geothermal energy development, and tidal and ocean wave-based power generation, were discussed in the meeting.

The ministry informed the meeting that the master plan outlines how, despite rapid growth in the energy sector, climate impacts can be reduced by increasing efficiency and ensuring the use of clean fuels while creating significant economic opportunities.

Electricity demand is projected to rise from 17 gigawatts to 59 gigawatts by 2050, creating environmental and social pressures.

Although total emissions will increase due to higher generation, the use of cleaner and more efficient technologies will significantly reduce emissions per unit of electricity—from 0.62 to 0.35 tonnes of CO? per megawatt-hour.

By 2050, through climate-related initiatives, it will be possible to reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by 64.5 million tons and total carbon dioxide emissions by 1,600 million tons.

As part of the master plan, several reforms have already been implemented. These included the repeal of the Quick Enhancement of Electricity and Energy Supply (Special Provisions) Act-2010 (commonly known as the Quick Rental Act), adoption of the Merchant Power Policy-2025, and approval of the Renewable Energy Policy-2025, Rooftop Solar Programme-2025, and Net Metering Guidelines-2025.

Some recommendations on power generation, transmission, supply, environmental and economic sustainability, and institutional reforms were presented in the meeting while goals have been set to make the primary energy sector more secure, efficient, less import-dependent, and financially sustainable by 2050.

According to the master plan, an investment of US$70-85 billion will be required in the energy sector and US$107.25 billion in the power sector over the period 2026-2050.​

 

[Saif]

Gas pressure extremely low in Dhaka, what’s behind the crisis

Dhaka city is experiencing severe low gas pressure, causing acute hardship for residents. Titas Gas authorities said efforts are ongoing to resolve the low-pressure problem.

en.prothomalo.com

Gas pressure extremely low in Dhaka, what’s behind the crisis

Staff Correspondent Dhaka
Published: 09 Jan 2026, 17: 23

Because of low pressure, the gas stove is burning on a very low flame. The photo was taken at a residence in the Niketan area of the capital on 9 December 2025. Prothom Alo

Dhaka city is experiencing extremely low gas pressure, causing acute hardship for residents.

Rumana, a resident of East Rajabazar area, works as a domestic help. After finishing work in various homes, she returns to her own residence and gets gas only around 1:00 am. She has to cook at night using that limited supply. There is no gas throughout the day. With a low income, she says there is no alternative option for her.

Shuva Zinnia Chowdhury, who lives in Kalabagan, said that when she returns home in the evening after office hours, the gas stove burns feebly. Cooking takes forever on such a low flame.


There is no gas almost throughout the day and usually there’s supply only after 11:00 pm, when many neighbours start cooking. She has now begun using a rice cooker and is considering buying an electric stove.

Sadi Islam, a resident of Niketan, said there is a small inflow of gas very early in the morning, which somehow allows them to manage breakfast. After that, the stove does not light at all. Lunch has to be bought from outside. Gas supply returns in the afternoon or evening, but the pressure remains very low. That is when dinner can be cooked.


Md Abu Hurairah, a resident of South Manipur area in Mirpur-2, said gas is available from around 7:30 am to 8:00 am. There is no supply for the rest of the day. Gas returns in the late afternoon or evening, but with extremely low pressure, making it very difficult to cook meals.

Fatema Tuz Zohra, who works at a private organisation and lives in Khilgaon, said gas is available only at dawn. Apart from that, there is no flow for the rest of the day. As a result, her family has to wake up at 6:00 am to cook. In this situation, they are relying on electric stoves for cooking.


In a notice issued late Thursday night, Titas Gas authorities confirmed that Dhaka is facing extremely low gas pressure. The notice was published on the Titas Gas authority’s official Facebook page.

According to the notice, a gas distribution pipeline beneath the Turag River was damaged in Aminbazar area after being hit by the anchor of a cargo trawler. Although the pipeline has been repaired, water entered the pipe during the repair work.

In addition, gas supply to Dhaka has been reduced. As a result, the gas pressure is severely low all across the capital.

Titas Gas authorities said efforts are ongoing to resolve the low-pressure problem. They also expressed sincere regret for the temporary inconvenience caused to customers.​

 

[Saif]

Energy planning falters as gas supply tightens

A LEAK in the gas pipeline, a priority supply of gas to fertiliser industries and a declining domestic gas production by international oil companies have created a supply shortage, hitting hard household consumers, who constitute about 99 per cent of the...

www.newagebd.net

Energy planning falters as gas supply tightens

A LEAK in the gas pipeline, a priority supply of gas to fertiliser industries and a declining domestic gas production by international oil companies have created a supply shortage, hitting hard household consumers, who constitute about 99 per cent of the client base of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd but receive roughly 15 per cent of the total gas produced. Households in a significant number of areas in Dhaka have woken up for days in the morning to find no gas supply for cooking. The households that generally use liquefied petroleum gas or the ones that opted for gas cylinders in the event of pipeline supply disruption in the winter also faced an increase in prices, which was compounded by a strike that the LPG Traders’ Cooperative Society Ltd called at night on December 7 but called off the next day after a meeting with the Energy Regulatory Commission. The state-owned Petrobangla has put the sudden supply disruption down to an incident in which the underground pipeline under the River Buriganga at Aminbazar in Dhaka leaked. Officials, however, say that the problem has already been resolved, but a stable supply would take more time.

Petrobangla has now for two months been diverting more gas to fertiliser industries amidst a declining gas production by international oil companies. Priority has also been given to the industrial sector so that production in export-oriented sectors stays uninterrupted. The gas production is reported to have declined to 2,578.5mmcfd on January 7–8 from 2,666.8mmcfd a month ago, primarily because production by international oil companies fell to 893mmcfd on January 7–8 from 1,026mmcfd a month ago. An uninterrupted supply of gas to the industrial sector is of utmost importance, but depriving, even if partly, an estimated 3.3 million of the 41 million households appears to be no solution. In this way, Titas Gas has forced consumers to use liquefied petroleum gas over the years. The consumption of liquefied petroleum gas has increased tenfold, having reached 1.44 million tonnes in 2024 from 0.15 million tonnes in 2015. Biomass, especially firewood, is still widely used and accounts for two-thirds of the fuel for cooking in households. But the Integrated Energy and Power Master Plan 2024 aims at replacing traditional fuels with liquefied petroleum gas. Officials say that the supply shortage is unlikely to go away soon because of the limited capacity to import liquefied natural gas.



All the propositions show that there have been problems in matching the plan against the reality. Whilst the government should, therefore, engage with international oil companies to resolve the decline in gas production and mend the oft-quoted misuse and abuse of the supply gas, it should strengthen the Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Ltd to go for hydrocarbon exploration in the long run.​