Gas and Electricity Crisis: Business leaders find ‘relief’ after discussing with PM

Business leaders expressed a sense of "relief" following a meeting with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Representatives said that they received assurances that the ongoing gas and electricity crisis would mitigate by tomorrow.

On Monday, the Prime Minister held a meeting with top leaders of the country's business organizations. The meeting, titled 'Challenges and Future Roadmap of Bangladesh's Power and Energy Sector,' took place at the Cabinet Division in the Secretariat.

After nearly three hours of discussions, Mahdi Amin, Advisor to the Prime Minister, and Fazlul Hoque, Administrator of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI)—the apex business body—briefed journalists on the outcome of the meeting.

Mahdi Amin said that representatives from 21 business organizations attended the meeting, alongside prominent personalities from the media.

The Prime Minister's advisor said that the government presented its long-term plans to resolve the crisis in the power and energy sector during the meeting.

He said that the government holds the highest level of accountability toward resolving the crisis. While business leaders raised several issues, the government expects that every problem will open doors to new possibilities.

The incumbent government has faced energy shortages since assuming power, primarily triggered by conflict in the Middle East. Initial disruptions in fuel oil supply have now transitioned into a severe natural gas shortage.

This shortfall has directly affected power generation, forcing the government to manage the situation through load shedding. Consequently, industrial production in factories has suffered significant disruptions due to the dual gas and electricity crunch.

Highlighting these challenges discussed in the meeting, FBCCI Administrator Fazlul Hoque said business leaders are leaving with a strong sense of relief after receiving clear assurances from the Prime Minister regarding a solution to the energy crisis.

He added, "People at every level were suffering to varying degrees due to the energy crisis. The Prime Minister told us that we will be able to return tomorrow night to the condition we were in before this new crisis emerged. This is a significant achievement and a major piece of comforting news for us."

Stating that the government presented a future roadmap for the energy sector during the meeting, Fazlul Hoque said, "This will not only solve our current crisis, but it also outlined how our growing demand will be met in the coming days."

He also added that business leaders provided their own suggestions and feedback on the matter. In addition to the energy crisis, businessmen received assurances regarding solutions to various issues within the banking sector.

Hoque added, "We left with satisfactory answers to our questions. All of us who came here walked out of the meeting with a sense of relief and optimism."

Reaffirming that business leaders maintain full trust in the government, the FBCCI Administrator expressed confidence that just as businesses continue to play a crucial role in economic development, the government will likewise provide the necessary policy support.

Reiterating that sense of relief, Hoque concluded, "We walked out of the meeting with peace of mind. We hope this relief will endure for a long time."