Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon has accused previous governments of pursuing an import-dependent energy strategy despite the availability of sufficient domestic energy resources, claiming that years of what he described as a “plunder-driven economy” contributed significantly to the country's current energy challenges.
Speaking at the 40th anniversary celebration of the Daily Inqilab at Lakeshore La Vita Banquet Hall in Dhaka’s Gulshan on Saturday night, Swapon said the country's energy sector had suffered from what he termed flawed policies over the past one and a half decades. According to him, those policies pushed Bangladesh into a severe energy crisis by prioritising imported fuel instead of developing indigenous energy sources.
The minister said the situation could improve with the commissioning of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, which is expected to play a key role in revitalising economic and industrial activities across the country. He noted that the project is being implemented with financial assistance from Russia and described Moscow as an important partner in ensuring Bangladesh’s long-term energy security.
Swapon also emphasised the need for Bangladesh to maintain balanced relations with multiple international partners due to its economic realities. He pointed out that the country's garment exports depend heavily on the United States and Europe, remittance inflows largely come from the Middle East, imports are sourced significantly from India and China, while Japan remains a major development partner.
Highlighting emerging global trends, the minister said artificial intelligence has become a major issue in international diplomacy and policymaking. He observed that AI now features prominently in bilateral and multilateral discussions worldwide and expressed hope that media organisations would continue to deepen their understanding of such evolving global developments.
Referring to domestic politics, Swapon said the 12 February national election provided a strong mandate for the current government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. He expressed optimism that the country would move forward on a path of democracy, prosperity, equality and national development.
