The government expects to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply across both urban and rural areas within the next one and a half to two years, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Zahed Ur Rahman has said.
He attributed the target to a combination of measures, including the installation of a new floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), increased domestic gas exploration, the full-scale operation of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant and the integration of gas from Bhola into the national grid.
Dr Zahed made the remarks at the government’s weekly press briefing on its activities and progress, held at the conference room of the Press Information Department at the Secretariat on Tuesday morning.
Explaining the reasons behind the present electricity shortages, the adviser said the power sector was facing pressure from several factors at the same time. Fuel shortages, mechanical problems at power plants and rising electricity demand linked to increased economic activity have contributed to the current situation.
He said the government was working on both immediate measures and longer-term plans to address the supply constraints and build a more sustainable energy system.
The adviser also spoke about the distribution of load-shedding between cities and rural areas. He said the previous practice of maintaining relatively uninterrupted electricity supplies in Dhaka and other major cities while imposing heavier load-shedding in rural areas had been abandoned.
According to him, the government has adopted a policy under which the temporary burden created by the power shortage is shared more evenly between urban and rural consumers.
Gas supply at the centre of power-sector plan
Dr Zahed said the proposed FSRU would take around one and a half to two years to install. Once operational, the facility would increase the country’s capacity to import liquefied natural gas, strengthening fuel availability for gas-fired power generation.
The government is also seeking to raise domestic gas production. A Tk 500 crore project is under way to bring gas from Bhola into the national grid, while the Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company is working on the drilling and re-drilling of 150 wells.
The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is another major component of the government’s electricity strategy. Dr Zahed said the trial commissioning process was expected to begin in September, with the plant scheduled to start supplying electricity to the national grid at full capacity from next year.
He said the combined impact of these initiatives would make the country’s electricity system considerably more reliable over the next 18 to 24 months.
Malaysia to take 10,000 Bangladeshi workers
The briefing also covered overseas employment. Dr Zahed said Malaysia had taken a policy decision to recruit 10,000 new workers from Bangladesh without charging them recruitment costs, including air fares, following continued diplomatic efforts by the government.
He said the new arrangement would move away from the recruitment syndicate that had operated during the previous government. Alongside 25 previously authorised leading agencies, another 312 organisations have been given an opportunity to work as associate recruiting agencies for sending workers to Malaysia.
The expansion of the recruitment network is intended to widen access to overseas employment and provide more agencies with an opportunity to participate in the process.
Missing children and police records
Responding to questions about missing children, the adviser said the issue should not be viewed as a crisis that had emerged suddenly.
He cited police records showing that 13,876 general diaries relating to missing persons were filed between June and December 2025. During the following seven months, 15,717 such general diaries were recorded.
Dr Zahed said the figures indicated a broadly similar pattern over the two periods. He added, however, that the government was treating every reported disappearance seriously and remained active in responding to individual cases.
Fertiliser stocks above last year’s level
The adviser also sought to dispel concerns about a shortage of fertiliser. He said the country currently had 1,200,861 tonnes of fertiliser in stock, including urea, triple superphosphate and diammonium phosphate.
The stock, he said, was higher than the approximately 1.2 million tonnes available at the same time last year.
The government is now focusing on ensuring that fertiliser reaches farmers on time by addressing irregularities in the supply and distribution system. Adequate stocks alone, officials have indicated, will not resolve farmers’ concerns unless distribution remains orderly and timely.
Measures proposed for journalists and other sectors
The adviser said the government was also working on measures aimed at protecting journalists’ employment and livelihoods. The implementation of the Ninth Wage Board and the formation of the Tenth Wage Board are part of the process.
He said the government also plans to take legal steps to bring television and online news organisations under a common framework, with the stated aim of strengthening the rights and employment security of media workers.
Regulation of battery-powered rickshaws was another issue discussed at the briefing. Dr Zahed said the Local Government Division was leading the preparation of specific rules covering the mechanical characteristics of such vehicles as well as the routes on which they would be permitted to operate.
The briefing also highlighted an allowance for employees with children requiring special care. Under the pay-scale arrangement, a monthly allowance of Tk 3,000 has been provided to help meet the costs associated with treatment and care.
Laldia terminal expected to boost trade
The government also expects the Laldia Container Terminal project at Chattogram Port to contribute to greater economic activity. The foundation stone for the terminal was laid with assistance from Denmark, according to the briefing.
Improved container-handling capacity at the country’s principal seaport is expected to support trade and cargo operations as the government seeks to strengthen infrastructure linked to economic activity.
The weekly briefing was attended by Chief Information Officer of the Press Information Department Syed Abdal Ahmed, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Information KM Abdul Wadud and Deputy Chief Information Officer of the Press Information Department Fakhrul Islam.
