No plan to raise fuel, power prices; supply secure until May: State minister

State Minister for Energy and Power Aninda Islam Amit has said the government has no plans to increase the prices of fuel or electricity, despite concerns arising from the US-Israel war on Iran in the Middle East. 

Bangladesh has the capacity to maintain a normal energy and power supply until May, he said while speaking to reporters at the Bangladesh Secretariat today (10 March),

“There was no crisis in the fuel and power sector in the past, and there is no shortage now either.

“The concerns and anxiety people are feeling over fuel and electricity will fade soon. At present, there is no shortage in the country,” the state minister said.

He also noted that Bangladesh currently imports an average of 15,000 tonnes of fuel from India every month, and the government has requested the Indian authorities to increase the supply further.

Responding to a question about the impact of the ongoing war in the Middle East, he said the situation will not affect Bangladesh’s energy supply even if the war continues for a prolonged period.

“Even if the war is prolonged, we will not face any problem. We have the capacity to keep the fuel and power sectors running normally until May,” he said.

During the briefing at the Secretariat, the state minister also urged the public not to panic over market volatility or rumours, assuring everyone that the government is working to ensure adequate fuel reserves and a stable supply across the country.