National Citizen Party (NCP) lawmaker Hasnat Abdullah has alleged that many government bureaucrats are acting in favour of private energy companies, using their official authority to influence state policy decisions for corporate and personal benefit.
He made the remarks on Sunday while speaking at a seminar titled “Energy Security: Current Crisis and Future Course of Action,” organised by the NCP reform implementation committee at the Institution of Diploma Engineers in Dhaka.
Referring to his experience in a national energy committee, Hasnat Abdullah said certain officials in the energy sector regularly promote policies that align with the interests of specific private companies.
He particularly pointed to bureaucrats linked with liquefied natural gas (LNG), claiming they consistently advocate for increased dependence on LNG imports as a solution to Bangladesh’s energy challenges.
He also alleged that some of these officials later join private LNG-related companies after retirement, raising concerns over conflict of interest. Similar pressure, he claimed, is also seen in the case of heavy fuel oil and diesel imports, where officials encourage greater reliance on costly spot markets instead of long-term planning.
According to him, such practices are undermining sustainable energy policy and prioritising vested interests over national needs.
Beyond the energy sector, Hasnat Abdullah criticised what he described as the government’s failure to implement key reform agendas, including an independent judiciary, restructuring of the bureaucracy, and strengthening of police reform mechanisms. He argued that these initiatives have been delayed due to concerns over losing institutional control.
He also warned that Bangladesh’s heavy dependence on imported energy is contributing to frequent load-shedding and industrial disruptions, which are affecting economic growth and market stability.
Comparing the situation with regional countries, he said nations like India and Pakistan have made greater progress in diversifying their energy mix, while countries such as Pakistan, Kenya and Uruguay have reduced vulnerability to global energy shocks through renewable energy investment.
Hasnat Abdullah further claimed that Bangladesh has lagged behind in developing domestic renewable energy capacity over the past 15 years, despite expanding conventional power infrastructure, which he said has created fuel supply challenges.
The NCP leader ended by urging a shift away from import dependency towards a more sustainable and renewable-based energy system.
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