Dhaka, Feb 3, 2026: Bangladesh could face a serious economic and social breakdown if its escalating gas shortage is not tackled immediately, energy experts warned on Monday, calling for urgent demand-management steps alongside a decisive transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
Speaking at a press conference in Dhaka, academics and civil society leaders said the country’s heavy dependence on imported fuel has made the energy sector fragile, costly and unsustainable, urging policymakers to adopt a coordinated national energy transition strategy without delay.
Gas Shortage “Painful for Society”
Prof M Tamim, vice-chancellor of Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), cautioned that the widening gas deficit would be “extremely difficult to manage” and would inflict hardship across all layers of society if corrective action is delayed.
He was addressing a press briefing titled “Reclaiming Power: A Just Energy Transition for Bangladesh” at the National Press Club, organised by the Just Energy Transition Network Bangladesh (JETnet-BD), a coalition of 155 civil society organisations with ActionAid Bangladesh serving as its secretariat.
As an immediate measure to ease pressure on the power system, Prof Tamim suggested adjusting office hours to reduce peak-time electricity demand. Earlier work schedules, he argued, would lower evening power consumption, when demand typically spikes and strains the national grid.
Call for a Coherent Energy Transition Policy
Beyond short-term solutions, Prof Tamim stressed the need for a credible and integrated national energy transition policy.
He endorsed JETnet-BD’s 14-point Citizens’ Manifesto, noting that Bangladesh currently lacks a unified roadmap for shifting to clean energy.
He also criticised the government’s limited engagement in renewable energy development, particularly during the interim period, warning that ambitious targets would remain unattainable without strong state leadership in the early stages.
Highlighting policy inconsistencies, Prof Tamim pointed out that renewable energy goals outlined in the 2008 Renewable Energy Policy, the Eighth Five-Year Plan and the draft Renewable Energy Policy 2025 are not aligned. “This lack of coordination weakens implementation,” he said.
Experts Doubt Current Renewable Targets
Energy analyst Dr Ijaz Hossain, former professor at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), expressed scepticism about Bangladesh’s current renewable energy trajectory, saying he was not confident the country would meet even its long-term goals without major reforms.
He warned that renewable targets set for 2060 could remain unfulfilled well beyond that timeframe if planning weaknesses persist.
Dr Hossain also raised concerns over policy transparency, stating that even committee members are often left uninformed about newly announced energy plans. He urged citizens to keep pressing policymakers for accountability.
High Cost of Fossil Fuel Dependence
Speakers at the event highlighted the economic burden of fossil fuel reliance, noting that about 97 per cent of Bangladesh’s energy demand is currently met by fossil fuels, nearly 70 per cent of which are imported. This dependence costs the country an estimated Tk 1.5 trillion annually and exposes the economy to global price shocks.
Shafiqul Alam, chief analyst at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), said the average electricity generation cost in fiscal year 2024–25 stood at Tk 12.10 per unit.
Oil-based power plants contributed 10.7 per cent of total generation, he said, adding that replacing just five percentage points of oil-fired electricity with renewable sources could reduce the average cost to around Tk 11 per unit.
Criticism of Power Contracts
M Zakir Hossain Khan, executive director of Change Initiative, criticised the interim government for postponing decisions on disputed power purchase agreements involving companies such as Adani and Summit, despite allegations of irregularities.
He called for the immediate cancellation of contracts deemed financially risky and unsustainable.
Citizens’ Manifesto for Energy Reform
At the press conference, ActionAid Bangladesh unveiled a 14-point Citizens’ Manifesto advocating a just energy transition, including a target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The manifesto proposes generating at least 20 per cent of electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and 50 per cent by 2040, while gradually shutting down import-dependent fossil fuel power plants.
Other key recommendations include adopting a comprehensive National Energy Transition Policy, strengthening the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission as an independent authority, waiving import duties on renewable energy equipment for five years, and prioritising local expertise in energy planning.
Farah Kabir, country director of ActionAid Bangladesh, said the manifesto would be formally submitted to political parties and candidates ahead of the next national election.
“Bangladesh does not lack energy potential,” she said. “What the country needs is a sustainable, affordable and people-centred energy system that ensures security and climate justice.”
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