Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has apologized to the people of Bangladesh for the ongoing load-shedding and expressed hope that the gas shortage will ease within the next few days, leading to an improvement in the country’s power supply.
Speaking at a prayer and donation event in Dhaka on Saturday, marking the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, Tarique said the government is working to address the energy crisis and is in talks with China and Malaysia about building a third LNG terminal.
He said the government expects the gas shortage to improve soon, which would help ease pressure on electricity generation.
Tarique also criticized what he described as politically motivated criticism of the government’s handling of the crisis. He said opposition parties should present practical solutions if they can resolve the gas and electricity shortages within three to six months.
The prime minister said the government is working to fulfill its election pledges and argued that the administration is still relatively new, comparing its six-month tenure to a child learning to walk.
He also blamed the previous government for what he described as large-scale corruption and long-term problems in the power and gas sectors. According to Tarique, insufficient investment in domestic gas exploration and growing financial liabilities in the electricity sector have contributed to the current difficulties.
He urged political opponents to avoid what he called provocative and disruptive politics and instead focus on policies that could improve people’s lives.
The government’s immediate challenge, however, remains easing the gas shortage and reducing load-shedding, particularly as households and businesses continue to face disruptions in electricity supply.
