Economist and former Jahangirnagar University Professor Anu Muhammad has alleged that Bangladesh’s power and energy sector has long been shaped by the influence of multinational corporations.
He claimed that some individuals who served as advisers or special assistants effectively acted as lobbyists for corporate interests.
He made the remarks on Tuesday while addressing a roundtable discussion titled “Energy Sector Reform and CAB’s 13-Point Demand” at the CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka.
The event was organised by the Consumers Association of Bangladesh, bringing together politicians, economists, energy specialists and rights activists.
According to Anu Muhammad, the Ministry of Power and Energy has, in practice, remained under significant external influence for years.
He alleged that multinational companies play a dominant role in shaping policies and agreements in the sector.
He further claimed that many deals are negotiated in ways that allow representatives of the same corporate interests to be present on both sides, involving both local conglomerates and foreign firms. This, he argued, has resulted in financial losses and increased dependence on external stakeholders.
Referring to the interim government period, Anu said expectations for democratic reforms were high, but instead lobbying efforts intensified, particularly in facilitating agreements with foreign companies.
“Some individuals were appointed as advisers, but in reality they functioned as corporate lobbyists,” he alleged.
He also linked the country’s ongoing energy challenges to policy decisions that have increased reliance on imports, foreign loans and international institutions such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Asian Development Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
Anu argued that Bangladesh’s import-dependent electricity structure was developed under a long-term master plan largely influenced by external agencies rather than solely by domestic policymakers.
He criticised past governments for prioritising foreign corporate interests over national needs.
Drawing a parallel with the global economic fallout following the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, he warned that Bangladesh must address structural weaknesses, including what he described as a “VIP culture” that drives excessive consumption and economic pressure.
Other participants in the discussion included MP Ashraf Uddin Bakul, former adviser Farida Akhter, Communist Party leader Ruhin Hossain Prince, Revolutionary Workers Party leader Saiful Haque and labour rights activist Taslima Akhter.
At the start of the event, CAB presented a 13-point set of demands aimed at ensuring transparency, accountability and energy justice in Bangladesh’s power and energy sector.
