[🇧🇩] Energy Security of Bangladesh

[Saif]

We in Bangladesh should not have gone into the building and commissioning of this Indian Power Station in Rampal which (while being an environmental disaster) happened only with the arm-twisting of Indian authorities to accept their loan and utilize their Indian "experts" who couldn't get jobs in India. It is the Indian govt. who became the gainer in the deal, who cannot get business deals made like this elsewhere. Lakh lanaats on the Indian boot-lickers in the AL administration and Hasina herself who could not stand up against Indian pressure because of seeking Indian help.

This type of looting is still going on in Bangladesh by Indians, both in private and public sectors, while Bangladeshi half-educated public servants and business leaders let it happen.

It may be mentioned here where this looting all started at the get-go after the 1971 debacle. The history is a sordid proof of how Indian administrations have denuded and looted Bangladesh down to skin and bones. Nanga kar dia. In any case - I have to forego some choice words I have for these looters, as it is Ramadan.
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Indian Military’s Massive Looting Campaign after Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War : An Untold Dark Reality​

Bangladesh, previously East Pakistan, was under the administration of a military regime based in West Pakistan (now Pakistan) from 1947–1971. Despite both lands situated far away from each other by a distance of 2,204 km (1369.502 miles), they were one country. One can say, it was the South Asian version of United States — Alaska.…

After the upheaval in 1971 and declaration of independence by Sheikh Mujib, Indian government led by Indira Gandhi started helping the provisional Mujibnagar Government & Mukti Bahini. As soon as the war began, India had a geopolitical motive behind their support. It was to weaken Pakistan.

India and Pakistan had been in conflict since 1947, and two Pakistan wings on both sides of India posed a significant threat to India. Thus, breaking down Pakistan was more of a plausible solution to their “pakistan problem”.

Indian Armed Forces entered the Liberation War of Bangladesh on December 3, 1971 , fighting Pakistani forces alongside Mukti Bahini forces.

Right after Bangladesh was liberated, Indian forces started their looting of arms and equipment of the Pakistani army which was surrendered on December 16, 1971.

Indian soldiers looted not only the weapons left by the Pakistanis, but also the goods of the common people. The Indian Military Forces controlled newly-liberated Bangladesh militarily until March 12, 1972, as per a “secret controversial treaty” between Indian Government & Mujibnagar Government , much to the dismay and disapproval of many Mukti Bahini (aka Bangladesh Military) officers and commanders.

Indian forces looting the weapons from Bangladeshi cantonments and camps, December 1971

Immediately after the independence of Bangladesh, while the Civil Affairs Organization of India was out to take control of the civil administration of the newly independent Bangladesh as per the same secret controversial treaty with Mujibnagar Government, its army got busy taking away the weapons and various types of goods, legitimately belonging to Bangladesh.

Indian forces raided several cantonments (in Jessore, Cumilla, Dhaka, and Chittagong, as well as in the industrial areas of Khulna), army barracks and military camps all around Bangladesh and looted weaponry and armouries located in those areas. At least four divisions of weapons, vast amount of light to heavy weapons, heavy artillery, ammunition, military vehicles, and other military equipment were taken to India.

While there were excuses provided that, “those belonged to Pakistanis and does deserve to be looted” — these excuses were obnoxious, since those weapons would now legitimately belong to Bangladesh due to their presence on Bangladeshi soil.

While excuses like that were given (under "war booty" ideas), Indian troops didn’t even spare military-areas that were controlled by Mukti Bahini (Bangladesh Military Forces) during the war either, from their looting spree.

Even Bangladeshi civilians weren’t spared. A blogger named Larry Chowdhury, who was a teenager during 1971, was among the many witnesses, who witnessed the Indian Armed Forces’ massive looting campaign, not even sparing small businesses. He interviewed several witnesses, some of them who were victims of the looting campaign themselves. He described in his memoirs that, “Indian forces were stealing and robbing from civilians and businessmen, holding them at gun point, in various parts of the country including upscale areas of Dhaka.

They looked for petty items like Ilish (Hilsha) fishes in the markets of Rajshahi or Rangpur town for almost no price. Everyone in Bangladesh knows that Hilsha is a rare commodity for the northern part of the country. But the stupid Indian Army personnel did not bother to know about the level of availability but argued to bring those for them. There were also Bengali-speaking Indians from West Bengal, who were a big part in all these. I saw this with my own eyes on December 23–31, 1971 and January 1–9, 1972 at various parts of the country. Also I saw Indian forces looting fruits, vegetables, poultry and many other products from Aricha Ghat (river port), Manikganj. However some Indian military personnel also exploited fruit sellers and forced them to sell fruits at subsidized or low prices. A fruit seller told me, ‘ It’s better that some of them at least paid me something. Many of our boats were absolutely robbed, leaving many of my fellow fruit sellers destitute’.

These looters robbed Dhaka’s New Market, Stadium Market, and Baitul Mukarram Market areas, while pointing guns at businessmen and civilians. Within a week or two, they robbed and stored Chinese single/double barrel flasks, Canadian Winchester torches (flashlights), Chinese and European suitcases/brief-cases, Chinese nail cutters, Chinese and Korean ready-made clothes (shirts, pants, etc.), foreign leather belts, radios/transistors, regular torch or transistor batteries, and numerous consumable items. The Indian looters were carrying these looted items through their Atal Jeeps and Shaktiman Trucks.“

This is the nature of the professionalism, discipline and mentality of India's mighty armed forces.

At that time, this ubiquitous and unprecedented looting carried out by the Indian forces in the newly independent country stunned even the foreigners.

The Guardian reported that the Indian troops looted heavy machinery and technical parts of the mills. In addition to the weapons of the defeated Pakistani forces and victorious Mukti Bahini forces, they looted food items(rice, vegetables, fruits, eggs, chicken, packaged food products etc.), farm/poultry animals (hens, cows, ducks), grains, jute, yarn, rubber, cotton, medicines, medical items, electronics, house materials (like bathroom fittings, television sets, radios, mirrors, refrigerators, carpets, mugs, kitchen appliances etc.), vehicles, factory machinery & mechanical parts, construction materials, private cars, boats, buses, trucks & even literal ships.

They ravaged and robbed government-owned & private mills, factories, workshops, depots, warehouses and civilian areas. The total value of the loot by Indian forces was estimated to be more than 2.2 billion USD at the time (1971–72), which in today's money is around more than 17 billion USD (around 2 trillion BDT; in Bangladeshi taka).

Martin Woollacott of the Guardian newspaper at that time reported that “Systematic Indian army looting of mills, factories and offices in Khulna area has angered and enraged Bangladesh civil officials here. The looting took place in the first few days after the Indian troops arrived in the city on December 17”. [Martin Woollacott, Indians ‘loot whole factory, The Guardian, Jan 22, 1972].

Renowned novelist from West Bengal, India, Sunil Gangopadhyay wrote in his “পূর্ব-পশ্চিম” / Purbo-Poshchim(East-West) novel,
“There are so many imported items available in Dhaka that many Indians have never seen before. Refrigerators, TVs, two-in-one, carpets, canned foods all of these began to be loaded into Indian soldiers’ trucks.”

Sector-9 Commander Major Jalil

Major Mohammad Abdul Jalil, Mukti Bahini Commander (Sector-9) wrote in his book Orokkhito Shadhinotai Poradhinota, “Trucks laden with arms, ammunition and many other valuable goods and thousands of military and civilian cars abandoned by the Pakistani forces, were taken [by the Indian army]. Even private cars [belonging to Bangladeshi civilians] were not left. I just tried to save the private cars in the [southwestern] city of Khulna after keeping those at the city’s circuit house ground [ in the care of some freedom fighters ] after requisition. Before that all cars from everywhere were passed through the border[India]. The office and quarter of the army cantonment in [southwestern district of] Jessore were totally looted. Even, the mirrors in the bathrooms and other fittings were not untouched from the drastic lootings. Peaceful pedestrians were also victimized. Such behavior of the "so-called ally" spread panic among the people. If the attitude of them turned so violent just after entering Bangladesh, what would be the situation of the country and the countrymen if they stayed here longer? What type of independence have we gained through a blood-shedding war?”

Major Jalil, who was already fed up with their looting, decided to intercept with a squad of his army force and stopped an Indian military truck loaded with looted weapons and goods in Jessore, and was able to recover the looted items from the seized truck. In a bizarre twist of fate, he was arrested for trying to defend what rightfully belonged to Bangladesh. At 11 p.m,December 31, 1971, he was arrested by Indian forces and was kept captive in an abandoned house in Jessore Army Barracks.

The abandoned house was formerly a torture-cell of Pakistani forces. There was an attempt to court-martial him as well. He is considered the first state-captive of independent Bangladesh. After staying captive for 5 months, 6 days, he was released on July 7, 1972 and was deprived of all honorary awards granted to other fellow liberation war heroes like him. And his fault ? He resisted the looting of Bangladeshi goods by Indian forces.

Major Mir Shawkat Ali, who commanded Sector 5 of the Mukti Bahini, said, “India helped us in 1971, but the Indians had taken away most of the weapons, even the military trucks the Pakistan Army had left behind in Bangladesh”. The sector commander also says that the freedom fighters “tried their best to prevent the military equipment from being taken away” but hardly succeeded. He further said, “Bangladesh Army made a lot of efforts to get back the weapons from India. The government also made some efforts to this end. Subsequently, the Indians had returned some of the weapons, a very little amount of what they had taken away, to the Bangladesh army”.

It was not only the Mukti Bahini (later Bangladesh Military) commanders who have accused the Indian army of looting out the weapons, but many civilians have also made the same accusations. Indian forces had also looted many civilian homes and towns that were nearby cantonments, army barracks and military-areas, and in many cases, Indian forces even robbed upscale residential areas in Dhaka, Khulna, Jessore and many other cities. Gold, jewelries, kitchen materials, furniture and many other house items were also taken away in loads by Indian forces, from civilians.

Indian forces in Bangladesh, December 1971

Professor Muntassir Mamoon of Dhaka University records, jointly with Jayanta Kumar Ray of India, that the Indian soldiers looted truckloads of capital goods, machinery and military hardware from a bordering district of Bangladesh by using their ‘Shaktiman trucks’.

While a young Deputy Commissioner protested against the loot to the utter disliking of an ‘irritated’ Indian Brigadier General, without much success of recovery. Mamoon and Ray observe that at a time when some so called “freedom fighters” and some Awami League members were themselves behaving like looters, it was not easy to restrain foreign soldiers. However, the looting of foreign soldiers exceeded to an unimaginable and unprecedented level, compared to the local ones.

Sekander Ali, a Bangladeshi Additional Superintendent of Police at the police headquarters at Rajarbagh in December 1971, wrote in his memoirs, “Two days after the official surrender of the Pakistan Army on December 16, I was told that I have to receive weapons and ammunition to be surrendered by the Pakistan Army, East Pakistan Rifle and Police and deposit them to the Rajarbagh armoury. An Indian major would be there with me. […] Accordingly, we received a huge amount of weapons and ammunition that included thousands of rifles, revolvers, Light Machine Guns, Sub Machine Guns, Beretta Guns and cartridges. […] It took several days to receive those weapons. […] All these arms and ammunition belong to Bangladesh. […] But, in a week or so, a few officers of the Indian Army appeared in the Rajarbagh headquarters with trucks, and asked me in an authoritative tone to open the armoury. I had no option but to comply with the order. They took away all the arms and ammunition received from the defeated Pakistani troops the other day, while I remained a helpless bystander”.

J.N Dixit, the first Deputy High Commissioner of India in Dhaka, admits that the Indian army took away the Pakistani weapons that belonged to Bangladesh and that the military advisers of the Indian government stood in the way of returning the weapons to Bangladesh. Dixit wrote, “Indian military advisers were not very enthusiastic about returning the weapons and other material captured from Pakistanis”.

In 1972, after Sheikh Mujibur Rahman returned to Bangladesh, he said at a midnight meeting at his Dhanmondi residence with his left wing ‘friend’ Mohammad Toaha and their common friend M.A Mohaimen, “India did not come forward to rescue us [during the liberation war]. They have rather grabbed my country” .

But ironically, Sheikh Mujib knew very well about the massive looting campaigns by Indian forces and the illegitimate arrest of Major Jalil, yet he hardly took any action regarding these events. Even worse, when he became the Prime Minister and formed the government of the first independent Bangladesh with members from Mujibnagar Government, he turned Bangladesh into a subservient state of India. At India’s orders, his government delayed the release of Major Jalil and Major Jalil was deprived of all honorary awards.

Even tragicomic is that, Mujib gave a “heartfelt speech” on March 12, 1972, in the farewell parade which was organized for the Indian army at Dhaka Stadium. In that farewell speech, Sheikh Mujib said to them: “We will remember you in our time of great crisis. …Although the people of Bangladesh could not extend their hospitality towards you, due to the destruction caused by the Pakistani army, they have nothing left. But they hold deep love for you. I request you to carry that love with you”. When Mujib talked about hospitality, one could only wonder, “ Why are we supposed to extend our hospitality for those who compromised our liberation war and looted us massively ?”

Regardless, in November 1972, during a visit to Delhi, the Bangladeshi defense delegation raised the issue of returning the looted weapons. They received a lukewarm response in return. Later, in response to a question from an Awami League member in the National Parliament, the Minister of Information and Broadcasting (which was Sheikh Mujib himself) said, “India has already returned a significant portion of the weapons and ammunition seized from Bangladesh, and the process of return is ongoing.” However, Mujib refused to disclose the number or amount of weapons returned “in the national interest.”

Freedom Fighter, Journalist & Writer Mohammad Zainal Abedin wrote in his book RAW and Bangladesh, “I saw large-scale loot and plunder by Indian army personnel. The soldiers swooped on everything they found and carried them away to India. They lifted everything from ceiling fans to military equipment, utensils and water taps. Thousands of Army vehicles were used to carry looted goods to India. Such a large scale plunder could not have been possible without connivance of higher Indian authorities”.

Bangladesh’s independence was compromised by India from the very beginning. This is no Newtonian equation, but a simple fact. The massive looting of weapons & goods of Bangladeshis, by Indian forces in an authoritarian manner, with little-to-no resistance from Bangladesh Government & Bangladesh Military, and the arrest of a Bangladeshi war hero in his own homeland was enough to prove that Indians compromised and infiltrated Bangladesh in several important sectors, rendering the newly liberated Bangladesh extremely vulnerable.

References:

The political economy of rural poverty in Bangladesh. Kamal Siddiqui (Dacca : National Institute of Local Government, 1982) (1st ed.)

Major (Retd) M.A [Mohammad Abdul] Jalil, অরক্ষিত স্বাধীনতাই পরাধীনতা (Orokkhito Shadhinotai Poradhinota) [Unprotected Independence is Subordination]

Shamshul Huda Chowdhury, একাত্তরের রণাঙ্গন (Eakottorer Ronangon)[Battlefield of 1971], 2nd edition

Moydul Hasan, মূলধারা’ ৭১ [Mainstream ‘71], Page: 199

Major General (Retd.) Moinul Hossain Chowdhury Bir Bikram, Silent Witness of a General: The First Decade of Independence, Page: 19–20

Weekly হক কথা (Haqq Kotha) [Voice of Truth] by Maulana Bhashani, Page: 139–140

Larry Chowdhury, “What India did to the nascent Bangladesh immediately after December 16, 1971?” , September 1, 2004.

Mohiuddin Ahmed, জাসদের উত্থান পতন: অস্থির সময়ের রাজনীতি (Jashoder Utthan Poton: Osthir Shomoyer Rajneeti) [Rise and Fall of JASAD: Politics of an Unstable Time], Page: 82–83

Pinaki Bhattacharya, স্বাধীনতা-উত্তর বাংলাদেশ প্রথম খণ্ড (Shadhinotar-uttor Bangladesh Prothom Khondo)[ Post-Independence Bangladesh (Volume 1) ]; Fourth Edition, August 2021, Chapter 3, Page 44

Muntassir Mamoon and Jayanta Kumar Ray, Inside Bureaucracy: Bangladesh

Sekander Ali, আমার পুলিশ- জীবন (Amar Police Jibon) [My Police Life]

J.N Dixit, Liberation and Beyond: Indo-Bangladesh Relations

Mohammad Toaha, স্মৃতিকথা (Smritikatha) [ Memoirs ]

Bangladesh Observer*; June 18, 1974

Mohammad Zainal Abedin, RAW and Bangladesh

Great find. It's priceless😍

 

[Saif]

As to the frequent excuse given by Indian govt. that they helped Bangladeshi refugees, the lion's share of the cost of housing and feeding the refugees was carried out by entities other than India, the financial and material aid coming to India directly via the UNRWA funds donated by various entities totaling about 168 Million US dollars. So - contrary to common belief, Indians are not the open-hearted donation entity (दान wallah) they claim to be.

View attachment 15643

Why should we remain grateful to India?

 

[Bilal9]

Why should we remain grateful to India?

There is no reason for remaining grateful.

Whatever military invasion action was taken by Indira Gandhi in 1971 was motivated by pure self interest (breaking up Pakistan and reducing two war theaters into one) and there was not one iota of benevolence present in that action. They wanted to extract the maximum amount of benefit from the scenario, looting that went on in a newly liberated vulnerable country is only a small inkling and indicator of that mentality. 100% faida uthana attitude.

Granted - a few good natured decent Indians may have felt humanely about the East Pakistan situation (people like Amartya Sen for example who had roots back in East Pakistan) - but Indian politicians had long lost any principles of unselfish humanity or the propensity to act from those feelings.

 

[Saif]

There is no reason for remaining grateful.

Whatever military invasion action was taken by Indira Gandhi in 1971 was motivated by pure self interest (breaking up Pakistan and reducing two war theaters into one) and there was not one iota of benevolence present in that action. They wanted to extract the maximum amount of benefit from the scenario, looting that went on in a newly liberated vulnerable country is only a small inkling and indicator of that mentality. 100% faida uthana attitude.

Granted - a few good natured decent Indians may have felt humanely about the East Pakistan situation (people like Amartya Sen for example who had roots back in East Pakistan) - but Indian politicians had long lost any principles of unselfish humanity or the propensity to act from those feelings.

Ditto.

 

[Saif]

Efficient use key to energy security

Bangladesh is facing a looming electricity shortage this summer as demand is expected to rise from 9,000 megawatts in winter to as high as 18,000 megawatts. To mitigate the impact of this impending crisis, which threatens to severely affect household, commercial, and industrial users, the governmen

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Efficient use key to energy security
Atiqul Kabir Tuhin
Published :
Mar 19, 2025 23:25
Updated :
Mar 19, 2025 23:25

Bangladesh is facing a looming electricity shortage this summer as demand is expected to rise from 9,000 megawatts in winter to as high as 18,000 megawatts. To mitigate the impact of this impending crisis, which threatens to severely affect household, commercial, and industrial users, the government has urged all organisations, institutions, and individuals to focus on more efficient use of electricity. As part of this, authorities have instructed that air conditioners be set no lower than 25 degrees Celsius this summer. The Energy Adviser went as far as to warn of disconnecting power lines for non-compliance with the directive, but it appears to have met with widespread skepticism. While the government's intention is to save energy, many consider it an interference in their freedom and lifestyle choices. Clearly, enforcing such a directive would be a challenging task without consumer cooperation.

Air conditioner temperatures do matter in saving energy, even if it is a minor adjustment. Studies conducted by India's Bureau of Energy Efficiency have shown that increasing the thermostat by a mere 1 degree Celsius can result in approximately 6 per cent energy savings. When individual actions are aggregated, they can significantly impact overall energy consumption. It only requires simple behavioural adjustments. This strategy has been employed by numerous countries, including India, the USA, and Japan. In India, the government mandates a 24°C default temperature setting for air conditioner manufacturers. This policy serves a dual purpose: conserving energy and promoting public health. The rationale behind this decision lies in the understanding that excessively low indoor temperatures can lead to health issues, particularly respiratory problems. By setting a default temperature, the government encourages a balance between thermal comfort and energy conservation.

The "Shut the Front Door!" social media campaign, launched by New York City's Department of Consumer Affairs in 2015, exemplifies a targeted approach to curbing wasteful air conditioner usage. Meanwhile, the Japanese government encourages offices to set air conditioner temperatures to 28°C during the summer as part of its Cool Biz campaign. The campaign was introduced to reduce electricity consumption and mitigate the environmental impact of air conditioning.

In Bangladesh, gone are the days when air conditioners were considered a luxury commodity. In recent years, due to rising temperatures and greater affordability of electric appliances, even middle- and lower-middle-income people are buying ACs. According to a study by the Institute of Planning and Development (IPD), Bangladesh has a total of 2.8 million installed air conditioning units. AC usage has been increasing by approximately 20 per cent annually. However, the growing use of ACs is further complicating the problem of urban heat.

While ACs cool indoor spaces, they also contribute to raising outdoor temperatures. A study by BUET found that Dhaka's temperature has risen by nearly six degrees in just 10 years due to the urban heat island (UHI) effect, a phenomenon where urban areas experience higher temperatures than surrounding rural areas due to heat-absorbing infrastructure, reduced vegetation, and increased human activities. The hotter it gets outside, the more people buy and use ACs, creating a vicious cycle. Amid all this, low-income people, who cannot afford one, suffer the most, while the environment remains the worst casualty. Meanwhile, as air conditioning units consume a significant portion of the country's electricity, farmers often struggle to operate their pumps to irrigate croplands due to load shedding. The stark contrast highlights a troubling irony.

Then again, the scope of energy-saving measures has not been fully utilised in the industrial sector either. A study by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) reveals that while the efficiency of gas-based captive generators in the industrial sector has improved, it remains at 35.38 per cent, despite the availability of gas generators with an efficiency of 45.2 per cent in the market. Additionally, around 44 per cent of the heat emitted from gas generators in industries remains unused for productive purposes. Upgrading to energy-efficient generators and maximising the use of waste heat within factories could reduce liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports by approximately US$460 million annually, assuming an LNG price of $9.5 per MMBTU, the study concludes.

Moreover, inefficiencies extend to other areas. In some industries, boilers are not maintained in time, leading to gas wastage. Domestic gas consumption also remains inefficient, with uncontrolled use for cooking.

In a country that depends on imported fossil fuels to produce electricity and where the government has been perpetually struggling to manage a ballooning energy subsidy, there must be a greater focus on sensitising people to the efficient use of energy. Despite a rise in energy-efficient LED lights and home appliances as cost-saving measures, excessive usage undermines potential energy savings.

So, there must be sustained awareness campaigns to promote energy efficiency and conservation to encourage the adoption of energy-efficient appliances and highlight the financial benefits of energy conservation. Clear energy efficiency standards and properly setting the default mode of appliances would empower consumers to make informed purchasing choices.

In the future, the price of electricity may be raised further to cover the subsidy in this sector. The government reportedly decided to raise the power sector subsidy from Tk 350 billion to Tk 620 billion-a 57.9 per cent increase-in the revised budget for FY25 in order to avoid a power tariff hike during a period of high inflation. However, it has stated that once inflation comes down to around 6.5 per cent, it will adjust the power tariff. Moreover, as part of the $4.7 billion loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Bangladesh has committed to phasing out subsidies in the energy sector by 2026, which will require further electricity price adjustments. The economical use of electricity, therefore, will benefit households, commercial establishments, industries, and the environment alike.​

 

[Saif]

WB stands guarantor for $350m revolving LC facilities

World Bank's soft-lending-window IDA has now assured Bangladesh of facilitating LNG import with funding underwriting to banks to meet the country's growing energy demand amid dwindling local gas output, officials said. Riding on the International Development Association (IDA) assurance, go

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Bangladesh banking high on LNG import
WB stands guarantor for $350m revolving LC facilities

FHM Humayan Kabir
Published :
Mar 21, 2025 00:05
Updated :
Mar 21, 2025 00:05

World Bank's soft-lending-window IDA has now assured Bangladesh of facilitating LNG import with funding underwriting to banks to meet the country's growing energy demand amid dwindling local gas output, officials said.

Riding on the International Development Association (IDA) assurance, government's Energy and Mineral Resources Division (EMRD) is going to call expression of interest (EoI) from national and international commercial banks for financing the import of liquefied natural gas or LNG with the repayment guarantee from the World Bank entity, they said Thursday.

Meanwhile, the WB's guarantee organisation for promoting cross-border investment in developing countries -- Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) -- had offered Bangladesh the revolving LC facilities for the import of LNG.

The MIGA recently placed a proposal to the interim government to stand guarantor for trade financing, especially for opening letter of credit (LC) with local or foreign commercial banks.

Now the Washington-based lender's soft-lending window has assured of giving guarantee on US$350 million worth of LNG import from overseas market under "revolving LC facilities".

"In the first phase, Petrobangla will seek EoI from 7-8 aspirant commercial banks on their LC- opening rate and other service charges for the LNG import. We will scrutinise the proposal," says a senior EMRD official.

"If we see it a viable option compared to our other existing ones, then we will welcome the IDA's guarantee scheme," he adds.

Meanwhile, an Economic Relations Division (ERD) official said Petrobangla would scrutinise the offers of the commercial banks and guarantee costs. "If it finds the proposals viable, then we will accept the IDA's guarantee proposal."

The EMRD considers the WB entity's proposal a new avenue for Bangladesh in LNG supply through import from overseas market to feed the country's growing fuel demand.

Another senior EMRD official says although the MIGA proposed to help Bangladesh in importing liquefied natural gas worth up to $350 million annually from the international market, but it also offered that the facility would be enhanced over the next seven years.

The proposed $350-million credits for the first year will be a "revolving LC facility" for securing Petrobangla's long-term working capital aimed at importing the LNG smoothly.

According to the proposal on revolving LC-facilitating fund, the IDA will charge SOFR-plus 2.0 per cent. Its opening LC period will be three months and the repayment period nine months.

The EMERD official said after getting the EoI from the commercial banks, they would compare the proposal with other financing facilities like the ongoing credit facility from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB)'s ITFC.

"If we find it concessional than the other existing facilities, we will go for taking the IDA offer," the EMRD official told the FE.

The ITFC recently confirmed $600 million worth of loans for Bangladesh to import fuels and fertilizers -- both in high demand for feeding growing economic activity.

Bangladesh government will borrow $600 million from the ITFC to import fuel oils, LNG, and fertilisers. The loan will carry an interest rate of six-month SOFR-plus 1.80 per cent, along with a 0.2-percent administrative fee.

Another EMRD official says, "We have already requested the MIGA to relax its terms and conditions as it is a bit costlier than the other loans we are getting from different sources."

As per IDA's proposal, some local and foreign banks will arrange loans for opening LCs for LNG import. The IDA will be underwriter on the loans from the commercial banks on behalf of the importer -- the state-run Petrobangla.

Following Bangladesh's natural gas-supply shortages from its own gas fields across the country -- largely for neglecting new exploration -- it has imported the liquid gas from overseas market over the last few years in a bid to meet local energy demand.

The import of LNG started in the 2018-2019 period. Since then, imported LNG has played a vital role in meeting the country's growing gas demand-albeit with strains on the country's foreign-exchange reserves.

In 2022, the country imported a substantial quantity of LNG, to the tune 5.06 million metric tonnes, from Qatar Gas, Oman Trading, and the spot market at a cost of US$4.555 billion.

Last year, a total of 86 LNG cargoes were imported -- 56 from long-term suppliers and 30 from spot market, the official adds.

Bangladesh will need to import 30-Mtpa LNG to meet the growing local demand by 2041 as domestic gas reserves are depleting fast, according to a global report of the Copenhagen-based research firm Ramboll in association with Geological Survey of Denmark and EQMS Consulting Limited.

The country's "existing gas reserves will run out by 2038 if no new exploration and discovery take place", says the report.

By 2041, Petrobangla predicts, the demand for natural gas will be around 8.0 billion cubic feet per day (Bcfd).

The country's overall gas output now hovers around 2.57 Bcfd, of which 0.50 Bcfd is regasified LNG and the remaining 2.02 Bcfd of gas comes from local gas fields, according to Petrobangla data as of last December.​

 

[Saif]

Govt floats two more tenders to buy two spot LNG cargoes in April

State-run Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Company Ltd (RPGCL) has floated one fresh tender and re-issued another to purchase two spot LNG cargoes for the April 23-24 and April 14-15 delivery windows. The bid winners will deliver the LNG cargoes at Moheshkhali island in the Bay of Bengal, with options to

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Govt floats two more tenders to buy two spot LNG cargoes in April
FE ONLINE REPORT
Published :
Mar 22, 2025 19:50
Updated :
Mar 22, 2025 19:50

State-run Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Company Ltd (RPGCL) has floated one fresh tender and re-issued another to purchase two spot LNG cargoes for the April 23-24 and April 14-15 delivery windows.

The bid winners will deliver the LNG cargoes at Moheshkhali island in the Bay of Bengal, with options to discharge the cargo at either of the country’s two floating storage re-gasification units (FSRUs), located on Moheshkhali island.

The RPGCL reissued the tender for April 14-15 delivery, as it did not find a suitable offer, said a senior RPGCL official.

The RPGCL, a wholly owned subsidiary of state-run Bangladesh Oil, Gas, and Mineral Corporation (Petrobangla), looks into LNG trades in Bangladesh.

The volume of the spot LNG cargoes will also be around 3.36 million MMBtu each.

Bangladesh bought four spot LNG cargoes for March delivery windows, which is the highest purchase of LNG from the spot market in a month.

It also awarded two spot LNG tenders for early April delivery windows.

Riding on a high volume of LNG imports, Bangladesh’s LNG re-gasification reached the highest level ever at 1,022 million cubic feet per day last week, according to official data of Petrobangla.

The previous highest RLNG was recorded on April 20, 2024, when the country re-gasified around 1,005 mmcfd during the heat wave last summer.

The RPGCL might continue buying a high volume of spot LNG cargoes for the next several months during the ensuing summer to meet the scorching summer demand.

Bangladesh previously awarded its latest spot LNG cargo tender to TotalEnergies Gas and Power Ltd for an April 12-13 delivery window at US$14.22 per million British thermal units (MMBtu).

Apart from spot LNG cargoes, Bangladesh has been importing LNG from its two existing long-term LNG suppliers – Qatargas and OQ Trading International – for regasification in its two operational FSRUs.​

 

[Saif]

Barapukuria coal storage overflows

The coal yards at the Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Limited are already overflowing while fresh supplies are coming in every day as the Chinese contractor lifting the coal has refused to comply with requests to suspend operations.

www.newagebd.net

Barapukuria coal storage overflows
Emran Hossain 28 March, 2025, 00:11

The coal yards at the Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Limited are already overflowing while fresh supplies are coming in every day as the Chinese contractor lifting the coal has refused to comply with requests to suspend operations.

The China National Machinery Import and Export Company, responsible for mining the coal, has refused to listen to repeated requests made by the Barapukuria coal mine co to suspend its production or letting it up for a while, said Shaiful Islam Sarkar, managing director, BCMCL.

‘Besides suffering loss from keeping its outsourced miners idle, the Chinese company is also worried about other negative aspects of suspending mining halfway through,’ said Shaiful.

Leaving the work halfway through could mean building of poisonous gas inside the mine or letting the exposed reserve to spontaneous combustion, he explained.

‘The Chinese company will not suspend production under any circumstances,’ he further said, adding that over 3.20 lakh tonnes of coal was in store at present at the company’s two coal yards, sending the coal stacks more than 15 metres high, three times the usual height.

The Chinese contractor, with 1,100 local and 250 Chinese staff, is lifting 5,000 tonnes of coal every day, the entire production supposed to be supplied to and consumed by the Barapukuria Coal Power Plant.

A subsidiary of the Bangladesh Power Development Board, the coal power plant requested the BCMCL, a subsidiary of Petrobangla, several times since September last year, to suspend the coal production for several months.

The 525MW Barapukuria power plant has three units of which the second one with 125MW capacity has been out of operation since 2020. The rest of the two units, which used to intermittently shut down due to lack of maintenance, suffered complete shutdown in mid-February to resume sometime later.

Currently the Boropukuria power plant produces about 220MW electricity which is likely to increase by about 20MW over the next six months that may slightly raise the coal demand.

The power plant can at present consume maximum 2,500 tonnes of coal every day, leaving half of the daily production unused, adding 2,500 tonnes of coal to the already towering stacks.

‘I don’t find the Chinese company’s explanation regarding suspending the production credible,’ said Mohammad Abu Bakar Siddique, the chief engineer of the plant.

‘The coal mining company is being fooled by the Chinese contractor. Foreigners will always try to exhaust reserve as fast as they can,’ said Abu Bakar.

The Chinese contractor is supposed to lift 4.5 million tonnes between 2022 and 2027 under the fresh contract signed with the BCMCL.

BCMCL authorities said that the contract did not contain anything about reducing production under special circumstances.

Energy expert M Tamim called for a review of the contract, expressing his surprise at the continued coal extraction despite the storage capacity overflowing.

‘Where would they keep it?’ he asked.

Tamim recalled occasions on which the Barapukuria power plant remained out of operation because of the contractor failing to supply coal.

‘I don’t recall any penalty slapped on the contractor because of their failure,’ he said.

The Chinese company engaged in the mining has sparked a heated debate exposing Bangladesh’s incapacity to develop own manpower to carry out a work that rarely requires foreign expertise in other countries, including neighbouring India.

The main task of the coal mine, from designing the coal extraction plan to supervising workers, are done by the Chinese contractor, said officials.

Both the Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Limited and the Bangladesh Power Development Board, the owner of the coal plant, were busy spraying water on their coal stacks continuously as the dry season of winter presumably facilitated self-combustion.

The extraction target for the current phase of mining at Barapukuria is nearly five lakh tonnes.

The BCMCL has a 250-strong workforce and most of them do not work inside the mine.

After the coal field was discovered in 1985, the BCMCL extended its contract with the China National Machinery Import and Export Co to develop the mine and then extract coal through 2027.

The BCMCL started extracting coal in 2005, lifting 13.02 million tonnes by June 2022. Of the extracted coal, 9.54 million tonnes was used in the 525MW coal power plant, while 3.35 million tonnes was supplied to different industries in the country.

Coal sales to local buyers except the power plant have remained suspended since 2018 after the discovery that over 1.43 lakh tonnes of coal went missing between 2006 and 2018.

‘It’s high time we asked why we still needed a Chinese company to lift coal at Barapukuria,’ said energy expert Ijaz Hossain.

The BPDB has recently formed a committee to find ways to manage the huge storage of coal.​

 

[Saif]

How China’s green energy strategy can inspire Bangladesh

Shifting towards green energy would significantly improve our air quality.

www.thedailystar.net

How China’s green energy strategy can inspire Bangladesh

China’s model of incentivising renewable energy infrastructure development could be replicated in Bangladesh, encouraging private and public sector investment. PHOTO: REUTERS

China has emerged as a global leader in the green energy sector, making significant strides in transitioning to renewable and sustainable energy sources. This is a crucial part of China's environmental goals and commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.

Over the past decade, the country has invested heavily in green technologies, such as solar, wind and hydropower, while reducing its reliance on coal. In 2024, China became home to the world's largest solar and wind energy capacities as well as the largest electric vehicle market.

Additionally, it is a major player in the manufacturing of solar panels, wind turbines, and energy storage systems. China's leadership in addressing domestic environmental challenges is positioning the country as a key influence in global environmental policies and technologies.

A central strategy behind the success in green energy is aggressive investment in renewable energy infrastructure. For example, tax breaks and low-interest loans for solar and wind energy companies have spurred innovation and growth. Alongside investments in energy production, China has developed an extensive electric vehicle network to reduce emissions from transportation, one of the largest sources of pollution in the country.

Sichuan Shudao Equipment and Technology Co, a leading company in the renewable energy sector, has made significant strides in promoting green technology, especially in wind and solar energy. The company develops and manufactures advanced equipment for clean energy generation. Its expertise in wind turbine production and solar panel efficiency has positioned it as a prominent player in China's green energy transition, contributing to the country's goal of reducing carbon emissions.

Sichuan Shudao excels in the development of high-efficiency wind turbines, with innovations that increase energy output and lower operational costs, making wind energy more competitive. Its turbines are designed for both onshore and offshore applications, expanding the potential for wind power generation. This technology could also serve as a valuable model for Bangladesh, as we are looking to diversify the energy mix and reduce our environmental footprint.

The company has also advanced solar energy solutions by developing high-performance solar panels using innovative materials and production techniques. These are now deployed in large-scale projects, including solar farms that power entire regions.

Sichuan Shudao is also exploring energy storage solutions to ensure solar energy availability even when sunlight is scarce. This combined focus on generation and storage is key to creating a reliable renewable energy supply.

For countries like Bangladesh, which experience high sunlight levels but face energy access challenges, taking a leaf out of Sichuan Shudao's book on solar technologies could be crucial in meeting the growing demand for clean energy.

With deteriorating environmental conditions, China's green energy methods could provide significant guidance to Bangladesh, which has long struggled with poor air quality, particularly in Dhaka, where pollution levels rank among the worst in the world. This has caused public health issues, including respiratory diseases, cardiovascular problems, and premature deaths.

Additionally, Bangladesh's reliance on coal and fossil fuels significantly contributes to its carbon footprint. Shifting to renewable energy could reduce pollution and decrease dependence on fossil fuels. By taking inspiration from China's green energy strategies, Bangladesh could design measures to reduce its reliance on coal and natural gas. With abundant sunlight and wind resources, the country has the potential to harness these renewable sources.

China's model of incentivising renewable energy infrastructure development could be replicated in Bangladesh, encouraging private and public sector investment. Offering tax incentives for solar panel installation or wind farm development could promote the widespread adoption of these clean energy sources. By investing in energy storage, Bangladesh could ensure renewable energy availability even during low-production periods. Shifting towards green energy would significantly improve air quality, with a reduction in coal-fired power plants and the widespread adoption of electric vehicles.

Furthermore, Bangladesh could learn from China's "green manufacturing" initiatives, where industries are retrofitted with energy-efficient technologies to reduce emissions.

In short, China's leadership in green energy offers a model that Bangladesh could follow to address its air quality issues. By investing in renewable energy, energy storage, and green technologies, Bangladesh could reduce its environmental footprint, improve public health, and build a sustainable energy future. Through targeted policies, incentives, and long-term investments, Bangladesh could not only address air quality problems but also contribute to global climate change efforts.

Naziba Basher is a journalist at The Daily Star.​

 

[Saif]

Petroleum fuel prices to remain unchanged in April

Prices of the petroleum fuels will remain unchanged for the month of April. As per an announcement of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, the retail prices of fuel in the country will remain unchanged as per the existing price structure. Accordingly, the prices of both diesel and kerosene

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Petroleum fuel prices to remain unchanged in April
UNB
Published :
Mar 31, 2025 21:46
Updated :
Mar 31, 2025 21:46

Prices of the petroleum fuels will remain unchanged for the month of April.

As per an announcement of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, the retail prices of fuel in the country will remain unchanged as per the existing price structure.

Accordingly, the prices of both diesel and kerosene will remain at Tk 105 per liter, octane at Tk 126.00 per liter, and petrol at Tk 122.00 BDT per liter.

These prices will be effective from April 1, 2025.

An order of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division said that the decision was taken to ensure the supply of fuel at a comparatively affordable price for April 2025, in line with the pricing formula that adjusts fuel prices automatically every month based on fluctuations in the global markets.​

 

[Saif]

Govt should hold power-sector foul players to account

TWO major coal-run power plants — the Rampal power plant owned by a joint venture of Bangladesh’s state-owned Power Development and India’s state-owned National Thermal Power Corporation and the Payra plant owned by a joint venture of...

www.newagebd.net

Govt should hold power-sector foul players to account
30 March, 2025, 00:00

TWO major coal-run power plants — the Rampal power plant owned by a joint venture of Bangladesh’s state-owned Power Development and India’s state-owned National Thermal Power Corporation and the Payra plant owned by a joint venture of Bangladesh’s state-owned North-West Power Generation Company Ltd and China’s state-owned China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation — having blown up their bill by Tk 41.25 billion, as a Power Development Board assessment has found, is worrying. Rampal, owned by the Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company Ltd, has inflated the bill by Tk 24.78 billion for the 2024 financial year and Payra, owned by Bangladesh-China Power Company, by Tk 15.34 billion for the period of May 2020–June 2023. The overbilling was found when the Power Development Board prepared the assessment in September–November 2024 after the Awami League, which had governed the country in an authoritarian manner for more than a decade and a half, was overthrown in a mass uprising in August that year. There had been no objective evaluation of the financial deals of the power plants during the Awami League’s tenure, when 124 power plants were set up, all in an unsolicited manner.

Eighty-seven privately-owned and two joint-venture power plants, involving the state-owned Power Development Board, were set up during the tenure of the Awami League that have burdened the power board with an overall loss of more than Tk 860 billion. Energy experts say that the findings show how deep the root of financial scams in the power sector is. The case is more serious with private power plants as the producers have had a free rein to do what they liked during the Awami League’s tenure. The Power Development Board on November 21, 2024 notified Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company of eight discrepancies in its 2023–2024 financial account. The over-billing includes a mismatch of Tk 8.86 billion in energy payment and a mismatch of more than Tk 5.63 billion in return on equity. Bangladesh-China Power Company has submitted an audited account of Tk 218.66 billion in capacity and energy payment for three years since the power plant’s initial operation began on May 15, 2020. The billing demanded more than Tk 75.22 billion in capacity payment, which the power board finds to have been blown up by more than Tk 13.33 billion. Such over-billing appears to have strained the power sector.

The government should, therefore, hold to account the quarters within and outside the public agency for the over-billing in the cases at hand. It should also investigate cases of other power producers to see if there are any issues therein. Finally, it should put in place a mechanism to stop recurrence of such malpractice.​

 

[Saif]

Pressure on govt to allow operation, risking capacity payment

Now pressure builds on the interim government to approve commercial operation date (COD) of a third large LNG-fired power plant at Meghnaghat although the current infrastructure lacks ability to keep it operational alongside already-approved two such plants. The past Awami League governmen

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Japan's JERA-acquired gas-fired Meghnaghat plant
Pressure on govt to allow operation, risking capacity payment
Two others already on stand-by there for constraints

M AZIZUR RAHMAN
Published :
Mar 30, 2025 00:22
Updated :
Mar 30, 2025 00:22

Now pressure builds on the interim government to approve commercial operation date (COD) of a third large LNG-fired power plant at Meghnaghat although the current infrastructure lacks ability to keep it operational alongside already-approved two such plants.

The past Awami League government had previously approved the two similar unsolicited power plants at the Meghnaghat site -- and under contracts that provide for the much-talked-about capacity payment from the exchequer even if no power is produced or purchased.

After several failed attempts by the Meghnaghat 718-megawatt power-plant owner, Japanese energy-biggie JERA, to attain a COD, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan recently wrote to adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources (MPEMR) to have the COD fixed at the earliest, said sources.

They said the incumbent government is now obligated to approve the COD risking the state-run Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) to count capacity-payment burdens although the power board subsequently won't be able to take electricity for supplying to consumers due to the country's perennial gas crisis and pipeline bottlenecks, market insiders said.

"It is the burden left by the previous authoritarian Awami League government that awarded numerous power plants under unsolicited deals without considering feasibility," a senior BPDB official told The Financial Express.

Most of these power plants were awarded on the basis of unsolicited offers under the now-defunct Speedy Supply of Power and Energy (Special Provision) Act 2010 which had a provision of immunity to those involved with the quick-fix remedies.

State corporation Petrobangla, which was 'made to commit' supplying natural gas to the gas-fired power plants, doesn't have sufficient gas to run the existing gas-fired power plants, says a senior Petrobangla official.

Petrobangla is currently being able to supply only half of the volume of gas required for feeding the gas-guzzling power plants, to the tune of around 1,034 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd), against a total requirement of 2,420 mmcfd, according to official data as on March 24, 2025.

"JERA has already completed all necessary work and is awaiting the opportunity to conduct the final commissioning test, which requires about 10 days' gas supply. However, they have been on hold for more than two and a half months for the commissioning of the final test," the METI letter reads.

The letter is signed jointly by Shirai Toshiyuki, director of international affairs division, agency for natural resources and energy of the MRTI, and Shimano Toshiyuki, director of South East Asia office of Trade Policy Bureau of the METI.

"Further delays in gas supply would incur additional cost for the project and undermine its effectiveness. This type of negative information can spread quickly among investors and dampen their sentiment towards Bangladesh," says the METI letter.

JERA acquired the Meghnaghat 718-MW power plant from Indian conglomerate Reliance and carried out a test run of its power plant in late October but did not get sufficient natural gas to initiate operation.

Since 2019, according to market insiders, the Japanese firm, JERA, has invested $1.0 billion in the project.

The Japan Bank for International Cooperation, a Japanese private development bank like JICA, and the Asian Development Bank have investments in the 718-MW JERA Meghnaghat Power Limited.

Japanese Mizuho Bank, SMBC, MUFG and Societe Generale-all backed by the Nippon Export and Investment Insurance-also invested in the project.

The project has secured major equipment from General Electric (GE), and Samsung C&T Corporation built the power plant as engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor.

When contacted, Smitesh Vaidya, head of contracts & commercial at JERA Meghnaghat Power Ltd, said, "The power plant is just a few days away from achieving commercial operations, subject to uninterrupted gas supply.

"The project has been strongly supported by JERA as sponsor as well as by development- finance institutions, including the Asian Development Bank and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation."

He adds: "We had requested support from the ministry and the BPDB to ensure the COD of the project by the end of December 2024."

He assures that they look forward to making "a significant contribution to the Bangladesh power grid through the state-of-the-art technology, highly efficient turbines and competitive tariff".

Although the project has yet to get COD due to inadequate gas supply, two adjacent gas-fired combined-cycle power plants (CCPPs) -- Summit's Meghnaghat 589-MW CCPP and Unique Meghnaghat 584-MW CCPP -- attained CODs during late April and late January respectively last year.

But, due to gas scarcity and pipeline constraints, both these two power plants are kept idle, mounting a capacity burden on the BPDB.

Sources said the BPDB inked a power-purchase agreement (PPA) in 2019 to buy electricity from the 718-MW plant for 22 years at a levelised tariff rate of 7.3123 US cents (Tk 5.84) per kWh.

State-run Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) could not construct six necessary substations, which is necessary for evacuating electricity from the three LNG-based power plants, located near Meghnaghat.

The power substations are unlikely to be readied before August, said sources.

Energy-expert Prof Mohammad Tamim accuses a vested-interest group of projecting inflated electricity demand on money-spinning motives.

"This resulted in the installation of power plants having more than required demand and entailing huge capacity payments," notes Mr Tamim, who was a former special assistant of a caretaker government.​