A legal notice has been served to the government demanding the immediate establishment of a strategic fuel oil reserve lasting four to six months to ensure national energy security.
The notice was issued in response to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the significant risks of global supply chain disruptions, which threaten the country’s economy and energy stability.
Supreme Court lawyer Md Mahbubul Hasan sent the notice in public interest on Sunday. The recipients include the cabinet secretary, secretary of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, commerce secretary, and chairman of the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC).
The notice grants the authorities 15 days to initiate the process of building the strategic reserve and to report on the steps taken. It warns that failure to comply will lead to legal action under Article 102 of the Constitution of Bangladesh.
According to the notice, Bangladesh’s economy, power generation, transport, and agriculture sectors are heavily dependent on fuel oil imported from the Middle East.
Current geopolitical instability involving the United States, Israel, and Iran has made the Strait of Hormuz – a vital maritime route for Bangladesh’s energy supply – highly sensitive and risky.
Strict US sanctions on Russian oil have narrowed the avenues for securing alternative fuel, leaving import-dependent nations like Bangladesh vulnerable to sudden supply shocks.
The notice argues that any disruption in fuel supply would paralyse national infrastructure, cause extreme inflation, and disrupt agricultural production, thereby threatening the fundamental rights of the people.
Citing Articles 15, 31, and 32 of the Constitution, the notice emphasises the state’s constitutional responsibility to ensure the basic needs and the right to life of its citizens. It describes the current “hand-to-mouth” approach to fuel collection as extreme negligence regarding the nation’s economic security.
To protect national sovereignty and the economy, the notice asserts that the formulation and implementation of a policy for a 4 to 6-month strategic fuel reserve is essential.
