Asifur Rahman

Low prices through the end of this decade may make liquefied natural gas (LNG) temporarily more attractive, but they could obscure the long-term risks for developing economies like Bangladesh, according to the latest briefing by the Global Energy Monitor (GEM).

The 13th parliament yesterday held its inaugural sitting amid a heated atmosphere, as opposition MPs staged a walkout in protest against President Mohammed Shahabuddin speaking in the House.

The government has formally requested the US to allow Bangladesh to purchase Russian oil, similar to the arrangement provided to India, to address potential supply shortages and reduce the economic impact of the surge in crude oil prices amid the US-Israel war on Iran.

The government is scrambling to secure alternative fuel sources amid the US-Israel war on Iran, as the lion’s share of Bangladesh’s fuel imports originates from the Middle East.

With the government struggling to manage growing panic over fuel amid the US-Israel war on Iran, the key commodity surged beyond $100 a barrel yesterday, raising fresh concerns for highly import-dependent Bangladesh.

Government efforts to strengthen monitoring of the fuel supply chain appear to have done little to ease sufferings, as shortages and long queues at filling stations continued across the country yesterday.

Bangladesh’s energy security has once again shown its vulnerability amid the ongoing Middle East war, echoing challenges faced during the 2020 Russia-Ukraine conflict, as it relies heavily on timely fuel imports while maintaining only a short-term stock buffer.

Many filling stations across Bangladesh, including Dhaka, Chattogram, and Rajshahi, ran dry yesterday as panic buying continued for a second day amid fears of supply disruption due to the war in the Middle East.