The Speaker of Parliament Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, on Sunday expressed concern over the failure to fulfil a commitment made by Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku regarding the resumption of gas supply to the Ashuganj Fertiliser Plant.
The issue surfaced during the second session of the 13th Parliament when independent lawmaker Rumeen Farhana raised a supplementary question. She reminded the minister that during the first session of the current parliament, he had assured the House that gas supply to the factory would resume by 1 May. However, more than a month has passed since that deadline, and the plant remains without gas.
Seeking clarification, Rumeen Farhana asked when the factory could realistically expect to receive the fuel needed to resume operations.
In response, the energy minister cited the country's ongoing gas shortage as the primary reason for the delay. He explained that the government is currently prioritising gas allocation to power plants to ensure uninterrupted electricity generation, leaving limited supplies available for industrial facilities such as fertiliser factories.
“We are facing a gas crisis. Maintaining electricity production is our immediate priority. As a result, we are unable to provide gas to the fertiliser factory at this moment,” the minister told the House. He added that gas supply would be restored once domestic production improves.
Iqbal Hassan also noted that the current government has initiated drilling activities to explore new gas reserves, claiming that such efforts had not been undertaken over the previous 17 years. He expressed optimism that future discoveries would ease the shortage and allow fertiliser plants, including Ashuganj, to receive adequate supplies.
Following the minister’s explanation, Speaker Hafiz Uddin reminded him of the earlier pledge made in Parliament. The Speaker advised ministers to make commitments in the House only after carefully reviewing all relevant technical and operational factors.
He stressed that parliamentary assurances carry significant weight and should be based on thorough assessments to avoid unmet expectations. The exchange highlighted growing concern over energy supply challenges and the impact of fuel shortages on key industrial sectors, particularly fertiliser production, which plays a vital role in supporting the country’s agricultural output.
