M. Tamim

Bangladesh stands at the brink of a major energy crisis, the consequence of decades of emphasis on power generation without securing a sustainable supply of primary energy.

In a way, Bangladesh maintains a vertically integrated state monopoly in the power sector.

Bangladesh has been struggling with primary energy supply since 2007, a long 17 years. Unfortunately, the focus was never to solve this fundamental problem sustainably but to build more power plants that are visible and carry larger political mileage.

There will be no short-term solution to Bangladesh's energy woes unless the economy and dollar inflow improve.

Fossil fuel and electricity subsidy is widely provided all over the world. A subsidy is a product of the political economy. Access to affordable energy is now a basic human right.

The reason for the amendment given by the government – pointing to subsidies and time-consumption – does not stand scrutiny.

If the government itself fixes the price, will public interest be preserved?

The world is going through one of the worst energy crises in recent times, even if we compare it to the situation that arose out of the 1973 Arab oil embargo.