Gas supply across Bangladesh is expected to return to normal within the next two to three days after repairs to the country’s floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal are completed, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud said on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat, Mahmud said the floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), which had been out of operation due to a mechanical fault, is scheduled to resume gas transmission from Thursday afternoon.
“The repair work on the FSRU will be completed by this afternoon, and gas transmission will restart. Once transmission resumes, pressure across the network will gradually improve, allowing us to overcome the current supply crisis,” he said.
Asked how long it would take for the situation to normalize, the minister said it would require “at least two to three days.”
“The system will return to the condition it was in before the FSRU was shut down,” he added.
Power Generation Also Affected
Mahmud acknowledged that the gas shortage had disrupted electricity generation, contributing to load-shedding in several parts of the country.
“Naturally, when there is no gas, neither consumers nor power plants receive adequate supply. The power plants that have been shut down due to the shortage will be brought back into operation once gas supply is restored,” he said.
Responding to Criticism
Responding to questions about growing public criticism over gas and electricity services despite praise for other government initiatives, Mahmud said the disruption was caused by circumstances beyond human control.
“What has happened is not something within anyone’s control,” he said.
Minister Rejects ‘Ghost Bill’ Allegations
Addressing allegations of unusually high electricity bills, Mahmud questioned the claims, saying consumers rarely submitted their bills for official verification.
“When people say they have received inflated bills, we ask them to bring the bills to us, but they rarely do,” he said.
He noted that electricity tariffs had been increased from June to July and argued that electricity consumption patterns had also changed with seasonal weather variations.
Referring to a journalist’s social media post claiming his electricity bill had increased from Tk3,500 to Tk7,000, Mahmud said officials inspected the residence and found that the household regularly used two air conditioners, a refrigerator, a blender and other electrical appliances.
“Considering the appliances being used, I do not believe Tk7,000 is an unusually high bill. I do not think there is anywhere in the world where so many appliances can be operated for that amount,” he said.
Talks With Indian High Commissioner
The minister also confirmed holding a routine meeting with the Indian High Commissioner, during which the two sides discussed issues of mutual interest.
“As neighbouring countries, we have many shared interests, and those issues were discussed,” he said.
He added that Bangladesh had requested India to increase diesel supplies through the existing cross-border pipeline.
“We have asked India to supply more diesel through the pipeline,” he said.
Asked whether the meeting included any discussion on former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent press conference, Mahmud said he did not wish to comment.
“I do not want to comment on Sheikh Hasina. She has done many things. She left the country in ruins,” he said.
