Why Bangladesh must pivot to renewable energy now khairul.jahin@… Tue, 05/26/2026 - 08:30 .full-viewport-wrapper img { width: 100%; object-fit: cover; object-position: center; height: 100%; max-height: calc(100vh - 71px); } Image Why Bangladesh must pivot to renewable energy now There are moments in a nation’s history when a crisis does more than create hardship. It reveals the weakness of an old system and opens the door to a better one. Bangladesh is now standing at such a moment.The country is facing an energy crisis that no longer centres on power cuts.
It is affecting factories, farms, schools, offices, exports, foreign currency reserves, and the daily life of ordinary people. What we are seeing today is not just a temporary shortage of gas or fuel. It is a signal that our energy system has become too dependent on imported fossil fuels.More than 60 percent of Bangladesh’s energy demand is met through imports.
LNG, coal, oil, and other fossil fuels have kept the country running for years, but this dependence has become risky and expensive. Global fuel markets are unstable because of geopolitical tension, supply chain disruption, and price volatility. For a country like Bangladesh, this creates double pressure: fuel supply becomes uncertain while fuel costs keep rising.The government is now spending more than BDT 200 crore per day in energy subsidies.
Annual energy import expenditure remains around USD 12 billion, putting serious pressure on foreign currency reserves. Nearly 70 percent of Bangladesh’s LNG imports come from Qatar. If supply is disrupted, Bangladesh can quickly face a severe shortage.
In the power sector, daily gas demand exceeds 2,500 mmcfd, but supply sometimes falls to 850–900 mmcfd. This can create a power generation shortfall of 1,500–1,800 MW. Overall, the daily gas shortage exceeds 1,100 mmcfd, and peak-time electricity shortages may reach nearly 2,000 MW.Bangladesh also has a weak Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
The current reserve capacity is sufficient for only about 35–40 days, well below that of countries such as China and Japan. This makes the national energy system even more vulnerable. Visual: Teeni and Tuni The impact is already visible.
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