Prime Minister’s Adviser on Finance and Planning Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir on Monday said the government is reviewing energy cooperation with India and China and exploring new investment to address Bangladesh’s ongoing power and energy challenges.
Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat after separate meetings with Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma and Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen, Titumir said discussions mainly focused on strengthening collaboration in the energy and power sectors.
He noted that Bangladesh is currently facing pressure in its energy supply and the government is assessing existing agreements to ensure future arrangements are fair and beneficial for the country.
“The country is experiencing an energy crisis, and some agreements signed in the past were not balanced. We want future electricity and energy cooperation with India or other partners to better protect Bangladesh’s interests,” he said.
Titumir said talks with India included reviewing projects implemented under India’s Line of Credit (LoC), particularly those related to power and energy connectivity.
He also mentioned the possibility of Bangladesh connecting to India’s electricity exchange market, where power is traded through a competitive pricing system.
“If Bangladesh becomes connected to such a grid-based market system, it could create new opportunities while ensuring transparency in electricity pricing,” he said.
Energy cooperation among regional countries including Bangladesh, India, Bhutan and Nepal was also discussed, with a focus on strengthening cross-border electricity trade and energy connectivity.
During his meeting with the Chinese ambassador, Titumir also discussed the status of several energy and infrastructure projects supported by China.
He noted that while China had pledged major investment in Bangladesh during President Xi Jinping’s 2016 visit, the government is now reviewing the progress of those projects and identifying areas where further investment in energy and industrial sectors could be increased.
The adviser said expanding energy cooperation and investment would be crucial for supporting industrial growth and sustaining Bangladesh’s long-term economic development.
