[🇧🇩] Energy Security of Bangladesh

[Saif]

NCP announces mayoral candidates for five city corporations

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has announced its mayoral candidates for five out of the country’s 12 city corporations ahead of the upcoming local government elections. The announcement came at a press conference held at the party’s central office in Banglamotor on Sunday night, wher

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Govt decision to scrap prepaid meter monthly fee hailed by CAB

UNB
Published :
Mar 29, 2026 23:04
Updated :
Mar 29, 2026 23:04

The Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) on Sunday night welcomed the government’s decision to withdraw the monthly charge on prepaid electricity meters, describing it as a pro-consumer move.

In a statement, CAB Vice-President SM Nazer Hossain congratulated the government for taking the decision in response to long-standing demands from electricity consumers across the country.

He said the monthly meter charge had been a source of discomfort and dissatisfaction among consumers for years, and the decision reflects the government’s responsiveness to public demand. “The move indicates that the current government remains committed to addressing public concerns and will continue to formulate policies and regulations in favour of consumers.”

Nazer also stressed the need for more consumer-friendly policies to ensure better electricity services, adding that scrapping the meter charge is a commendable step in that direction.

At present, prepaid electricity users have to pay a fixed amount every month as ‘meter rent’, which, according to CAB, imposed an additional financial burden despite regular payment of electricity bills.

CAB noted that various civic groups and consumers had long been demanding the withdrawal of what they termed an “unjustified and unreasonable” charge.

CAB expressed hope that the decision would ease monthly electricity expenses to some extent and help reduce public dissatisfaction.

Earlier in the day, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku announced the decision to abolish the prepaid meter monthly fee following widespread criticism and consumer demands.

The minister said dissatisfaction had persisted among users over additional deductions in prepaid systems. After reviewing the issue upon assuming office, the government decided to withdraw the charge as part of a consumer-friendly initiative.

The minister added that steps are being taken to make electricity services more public-oriented and to reduce the financial burden on consumers, and the decision will be implemented soon.​

 

[Saif]

undefined | The Financial Express

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Adverse impacts of energy crisis on commodity prices

FE
Published :
Mar 29, 2026 23:56
Updated :
Mar 29, 2026 23:56

The war in the Middle East has entered 2nd month, and there is no end in sight. All sides are claiming that they are winning, but only one outcome that is certain is global economic recession and suffering of ordinary people both in the conflict-affected zones and beyond. While people in Iran are facing widespread death and destruction due to relentless bombing by the USA and Israel, the rest of the world is grappling with rising prices and even shortages of energy and food. Oil prices have surged above $120 a barrel, up from $73 a barrel before the conflict. Some analysts warn that if the Strait of Hormuz, which is already closed for nearly a month, remains blocked for another month or two, oil prices could jump to as high as $150 and even $200 a barrel.

The repercussion of global oil price volatility is weighing heavily on Bangladesh's economy, as the country meets 95 per cent of its energy needs through imports. Bangladesh has not increased domestic fuel prices yet, whereas about 100 countries have increased energy prices since the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28. The state minister for power, energy and mineral resources recently said the government is providing a daily subsidy of Tk1.67 billion on fuel to ease public hardship and that it does not plan to raise prices now. This decision appears aimed at shielding people from further inflationary pressure, as consumers have already been grappling with high inflation for the past three years.

However, this crucial pro-people move is being undermined by the hoarding and selling of fuel oil in the open market at prices far above official rates. Many are purchasing fuel at exorbitant prices from black market either because filling stations in their vicinities are out of stock or to avoid long queues. As a result, fuel prices have effectively risen sharply despite no official adjustment. At the same time, traders are increasing the prices of other goods - sometimes justifiably, sometimes opportunistically - citing higher fuel costs. Fuel prices are never an isolated economic phenomenon. The unofficial rise in fuel prices is rapidly cascading through the broader economy, intensifying an already difficult economic environment and tightening the squeeze on low- and middle-income households. The most immediate impact was visible in transport fares, particularly during the Eid travel season. The ripple effects do not stop there. Higher transportation costs are feeding into food inflation, pushing up the prices of vegetables, fish, chicken and other essential kitchen items. This comes at a time when general inflation rose to 9.13 per cent in February, up from 8.58 per cent in January. Given the ongoing Middle East conflict, oil price volatility and a rising dollar, inflation could climb even higher in the coming months.

Against this backdrop, with no immediate end in sight to the ongoing war, the urgency of a coordinated response cannot be overstated. A number of countries have declared a national energy emergency and begun adopting energy conservation measures. For instance, the Philippines has officially declared a national energy emergency, while countries such as Pakistan and Egypt have introduced austerity measures, including reduced fuel use, remote work and cuts in energy-intensive activities. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has recently convened a high-level meeting to confront the fuel crisis and global energy volatility. The government should also immediately sit with leading economists to assess the overall economic situation and devise a pragmatic course of action to shield the people from the full inflationary impact of fuel price volatility and broader economic instability.​

 

[Saif]

Surviving unexpected energy storms

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has instructed the home minister to adopt stern measures against oil smuggling as well as creation of any artificial energy crisis. For a country critically dependent on imported fossil fuel, such strict directive from the government's highest level is a welcome step.

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Surviving unexpected energy storms

SYED FATTAHUL ALIM
Published :
Mar 29, 2026 23:55
Updated :
Mar 29, 2026 23:55

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has instructed the home minister to adopt stern measures against oil smuggling as well as creation of any artificial energy crisis. For a country critically dependent on imported fossil fuel, such strict directive from the government's highest level is a welcome step. And that is particularly so when, according to the prime minister himself, there is already sufficient stock of oil in the country. Therefore, there should be no reason to be worried about oil shortage. Such pronouncements from the government to reassure the public about the stock and supply situation of fossil-based oil, a vital source of energy, is obviously prudent and well-timed. This should dissuade the people from panic buying of fuel oil. Though the public may be made to see the reason, the traders may not be. So, it is believed, the government would not confine its directive to words only. For hoarding of the fuel oils started as soon as both genuine and fake pundits started to make forecasts about the impending war in the Gulf and its immediate fallout --- scarcity of energy and a sharp rise in its price in the global market. The media, the mainstream as well as the social, were and still are abuzz with the rumours, speculation and also some reports that were not fake. Under the circumstances, an unscrupulous and greedy section of traders cannot be expected to miss such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make windfall gains out of public misery!

And so, stockpiling of oils began to take place not only at the secret corners of oil pumps, shops, houses or below the ground. Hoarders, according to some reports, even hid now-scarce flammable substance in the odd places like cowsheds. No doubt, it was to the utter amazement of the innocent graminivorous, hooved quadrupeds! The state-owned news agency 'Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)' was the source of the report that was carried by one of the English dailies on the 14th of this month (March). It went like this: 'The Directorate of National Consumers' Right Protection (DNCRP) has seized 1,500 litres of petrol and octane illegally stored in a cowshed in the Chinakhara area under Sujanagar upazila of Pabna'. Needless to say, the said act of hoarding took place amid the government-run drive against illegal stockpiling of fuel oils. So, one should not be surprised if the hoarders return to their illegal activities as soon as the drive is over. This is a never-ending cat and mouse game in which the culprits always win. So, to get around this predicament, the punishment for hoarding should be harsh and the raid should not be on-again, off-again, but a relentless one. Also, those in charge of the raids need to be above board.

In fact, crisis of energy or for that matter fuel oil including Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), at the moment, is not a local, but a global concern. In the global market, oil is now the most volatile commodity. As of March 29, Brent crude oil was trading at approximately US$112.57 per barrel. Fuel oil (heating oil) prices were recorded around US$4.50 per US gallon. Notably, one barrel is equivalent to 42 US gallons. This obviously marks a significant rise in the prices of fuel oils in the market. The reason, as everybody knows, is the unjust war that the USA and Israel have imposed on Iran and, as a result, the de facto closure of one of the world's key oil route, the Strait of Hormuz, by Iran in retaliation. Notably, the Strait is the only passage for any vessel that in peace time in the past would use to load cargoes like oil, LNG or fertilizers from the ports of the Persian Gulf countries and pass through the Strait of Hormuz and then out into the open sea. But the passage through both the Persian Gulf and the Strait is now under the strict control of the Iranian forces.

Countries that Iran considers friendly to it can now use the Gulf and the Strait for the passage of their ships. Fortunately, Iranian authorities consider Bangladesh a friend. Now as there is no end in sight of the war and the US has been issuing one ultimatum after another demanding that Iran open the Strait of Hormuz or face more devastating consequences like fresh assaults on its vital infrastructures and Iran countering those threats with promise of inflicting equal damage to US assets and those of its allies in the Gulf states, it cannot be said the Gulf, at the moment, is safe for use especially by a peaceful country like Bangladesh. That is true, even if, Iran might allow any Bangladesh-owned vessel to pass through the critical oil route. That is because the vessel might inadvertently be caught in crossfire as the entire Gul region is now a war zone. As it happens in any war, the ports and the fuel terminals either get damaged or are shut down to avoid any damage or dislocation. As reports go, a number of oil and gas facilities owned both by Iran and some Gulf countries have suffered considerable damage. In that case, it would be wise for Bangladesh to avoid the Strait of Hormuz for sourcing its energy like oil and LNG until the situation stabilizes in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Bangladesh might look to the East, especially the southeast Asian countries like Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Vietnam which produce and refine significant amount of oil. Countries like Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Thailand also produce natural gas.

However, when it is about energy, the country needs to have a long-term strategy. As we are basically an importer of energy, especially of fossil oil, the policy should be one of building enough stock so the nation can go without importing the vital commodity for at least six months. China, for instance, has an estimated 1.2 to 1.3 billion barrels of crude oil in combined strategic and commercial storage. Consider that China is not entirely dependent on imported oil to run its economy. In fact, renewable energy accounts for more than 60 per cent of China's total installed power generation capacity. In that case, Bangladesh should be more serious about building its energy storage capacity to survive unforeseen storms like the present one in the global energy market.​