Last Updated on April 15, 2026 10:38 pm by INDIAN AWAAZ
Zakir Hossain from Dhaka
Bangladesh prime minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday sought $2 billion from development partners to meet the country’s immediate energy needs and safeguard economic stability amid the global energy crisis.
Addressing the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Plus Online Summit, he said, “The situation before us demands urgency, solidarity, and decisive action. Immediate support for the most vulnerable countries must be at the top of our collective agenda.”
“In this regard, Bangladesh is seeking to mobilise $2 billion from development partners to meet its immediate energy needs and protect its economic stability. We urge the international community to respond swiftly and positively to this call,” he added.
Highlighting the global energy crisis, Tarique said it underscored shared vulnerability and interdependence. “No nation, regardless of its size or strength, can overcome this challenge in isolation,” he said, calling for a coordinated and forward-looking Asian response to strengthen regional energy security and address supply disruptions.
He said the crisis had already disrupted Bangladesh’s economy. “In response, we have taken a range of short-term measures to contain the impact,” he said, citing demand-side management through rationing of government office and market hours, stabilising fuel supplies via emergency imports and diversification, and consumption controls including fuel rationing and limits on retail sales through initiatives such as the ‘Fuel App’.
The PM warned that the crisis could surpass the 1970s oil shock, which led to a decade of stalled development. “Today, these hard-won gains are in danger, facing the real threat of reversal,” he said, noting that Bangladesh, since its 1971 independence, had made significant strides in growth and poverty reduction.
“This moment calls for decisive and coordinated global action… particularly to protect vulnerable countries, including LDCs, from severe economic and social impact,” he added.
Tarique thanked Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi for convening the summit, which was attended by leaders and representatives from Malaysia, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Timor-Leste. He delivered his speech from his Sangshad Bhaban office, with foreign minister Khalilur Rahman and adviser Humayun Kabir present.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has invited global suppliers to enlist for refined petroleum product supply to secure future deliveries amid disruptions, according to an S&P Global report.
BPC issued a notice on April 13 inviting participation in an international request for quotation process for products including Jet A-1 fuel, high-sulphur fuel oil (180 CST), 50 ppm sulphur gasoline, RON 95 gasoline, 0.5% sulphur marine fuel and LPG.
“With this tender, we want to shortlist the competitive petroleum product suppliers from around the world, like those of LNG imports,” an official, Rezanur, said, noting that such enlistment had not been done earlier.
Bangladesh relies heavily on imports for refined petroleum, with BPC as the sole importer and distributor. Earlier, reports said the new BNP-led government is also seeking support from the US, China and India to boost gasoil supplies amid the Middle East conflict and constraints in the Strait of Hormuz.