The intersection of a global energy crunch and domestic resource mismanagement is pushing Bangladesh toward a potential food security crisis, according to Dr Shafiqur Rahman, the leader of the opposition in Parliament and Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami. Speaking at a high-level seminar titled “The Impact of the Global Energy Crisis on Bangladesh Agriculture: Ways to Overcome” held at the Krishibid Institute Bangladesh (KIB) on Saturday, Rahman warned that any catastrophe in the agricultural sector would inevitably trigger a national disaster.
The central concern highlighted by the opposition leader is the increasing difficulty farmers face in accessing fuel for irrigation. As the Boro rice season—the backbone of the nation’s grain production—reaches a critical stage, the shortage of diesel and unreliable electricity supply is threatening to derail harvests. Rahman argued that no amount of foreign aid or international loans could stabilise the nation if its primary source of self-sufficiency, agriculture, is compromised.
To mitigate the current volatility, Rahman urged the government to implement more transparent demand management and establish a strategic fuel buffer stock capable of lasting 60 to 90 days. He further criticised the prevailing market “syndicates” and called for an aggressive shift toward alternative energy sources, such as solar power, to reduce the agricultural sector’s dependence on fluctuating fossil fuel markets.
The discourse at the seminar also took aim at the government’s portrayal of the energy situation. While official rhetoric suggests a surplus, Rahman noted the reality of long queues at fuel stations and the financial “patchwork” currently holding the banking and industrial sectors together. He called for a transition from a “politocratic” system—where positions are filled based on political loyalty—to a meritocratic society, where experts are placed in roles that match their capabilities, regardless of party affiliation.
This warning comes as data presented at the seminar revealed that agriculture consumes approximately 18 per cent of the country’s total energy. With global supply chains still reeling from geopolitical shocks, the vulnerability of the Bangladeshi farmer has become a focal point of political and economic debate. Rahman concluded by stating that his party would resist any attempts to continue the “fascistic” control of professional institutions through force, emphasising that the prosperity of the nation is tethered to the health of its soil.
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