A special parliamentary committee formed to assess Bangladesh’s recent energy situation has submitted a 12-point set of recommendations aimed at strengthening long-term energy security and improving management of fuel and power supplies.
The committee, which was constituted during the first session of the 13th Parliament on 26 April, placed its report before Parliament on Sunday after reviewing the country’s current energy challenges and future risks.
Among the key proposals, the committee recommended increasing strategic fuel oil reserves to ensure at least three months of supply capacity. It also stressed the need to diversify energy import sources to reduce dependency on limited suppliers and to strengthen national energy resilience.
A major focus of the recommendations is the introduction of full automation and digital monitoring across the entire fuel supply chain to improve transparency, efficiency and accountability in distribution.
The committee further called for stronger legal measures to prevent illegal stockpiling and smuggling of fuel products. It also suggested expanding the use of alternative energy sources, including liquefied natural gas (LNG) and renewable energy, as part of a diversified energy mix.
Accelerated implementation of key infrastructure projects was also highlighted, including the Dhaka-Chattogram pipeline, the Single Point Mooring (SPM) system, and the Eastern Refinery Limited (ERL)-2 expansion project.
Other recommendations include launching nationwide energy conservation awareness campaigns, exploring private sector participation in fuel imports alongside the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), and making rooftop solar installations mandatory with strict monitoring of compliance.
The committee also urged reforms to reduce system losses in the energy sector and called for an integrated national strategy combining oil, gas, coal, solar and wind power generation.
It observed that global energy market volatility and geopolitical uncertainty have made it essential for Bangladesh to adopt a more resilient and technology-driven energy policy.
The 10-member committee was chaired by Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmud Tuku and included senior ministers, whips and MPs. Officials from the Energy Division, Petrobangla and BPC assisted the committee in its work.
The panel held meetings on 3 May and 19 May before finalising its report within its 30-day mandate.
