Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources and Chairman of the special committee on energy crisis, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, presented a comprehensive 12-point recommendation to Parliament on Sunday to ensure long-term energy security.
The report, submitted during the opening day of the budget session of the 13th National Parliament presided over by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad Bir Bikram, advocates for expanding strategic fuel oil reserves to at least a three-month capacity and ensuring the diversification of import sources.
The 10-member committee was formed on 26 April with a 30-day mandate to provide solutions for the recent energy situation, conducting meetings on 3 May and 19 May 2026 to finalise its findings.
The proceedings were supported by senior officials, including Energy and Mineral Resources Division Secretary Mohammad Saiful Islam, BPC Chairman Md Rezanur Rahman, Petrobangla Chairman Erfanul Haque, and Joint Secretary Monir Hossain Chowdhury.
Strategic reserves, infrastructure development
The committee’s primary recommendations focus on modernising the fuel supply chain through full automation and digital monitoring to improve transparency and efficiency.
The report stresses the need for strict legal measures to prevent illegal hoarding and smuggling while calling for the accelerated implementation of critical projects, including the Dhaka-Chattogram pipeline, the Single Point Mooring (SPM) project, and the expansion of Eastern Refinery Limited (ERL-2).
To broaden the energy mix, the committee suggested increasing the use of alternative fuels such as LNG and renewables, proposing that rooftop solar installations be made mandatory under close ministerial supervision.
Technical enhancements were also suggested, including the adoption of automatic gauging systems at oil depots and terminals to accurately determine stored volumes and modern digital monitoring for the entire distribution chain from tankers to consumers.
The report also recommends conducting feasibility studies on allowing private sector entities to import fuel products alongside the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation and developing integrated plans to reduce system loss while coordinating power generation from oil, gas, coal, solar, and wind.
Opposition proposals, resource exploration
The report also incorporates a 10-point proposal from opposition members, who called for an independent expert committee to conduct demand forecasting free from political influence, noting that there may be no immediate need to increase total installed power capacity.
The opposition suggested that coal-based power should be utilised at its maximum capacity as a cost-effective alternative and urged for the prioritisation of domestic gas production through the workover of existing wells and rapid offshore exploration via Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
Specific infrastructure improvements mentioned included developing pipeline connections from the Bhola, Jamalpur, and Zakiganj fields. Regarding coal, the opposition recommended finding safe, cost-effective solutions to move or sell coal from Barapukuria to avoid spontaneous combustion.
Additionally, they highlighted the government’s report of a crude oil discovery in Sylhet and urged for transparent exploration in other potential areas mentioned in media reports. For the refining sector, they recommended full funding for ERL-2 to process heavy crude rather than just light crude.
Sustainable energy, structural reforms
For the renewable sector, the opposition advocated for net metering policies to incentivise rooftop solar, the integration of battery storage to manage intermittent supply, and a target to meet 10% of national power demand from solar energy by 2030.
They also called for the withdrawal of all taxes on solar modules and feasibility studies for micro-hydro projects in hilly regions and river-based power generation, such as the 125 MW Padma Barrage project.
The report noted that production at the Kaptai hydroelectric dam remains uncertain due to climate change and uneven rainfall. To manage immediate crises, the committee suggested that government offices should reduce vehicle usage and ensure maximum seat capacity in official transport.
Looking ahead, research into hydrogen fuel technology, biogas, and waste-to-energy was recommended.
The committee concluded that the recent crisis, framed against global market volatility and geopolitical realities, serves as a critical warning and an opportunity to implement structural reforms to build a more resilient, technology-driven energy framework.
The committee included State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit, Whip ABM Ashraf Uddin, Whip Mia Nuruddin Ahmed Apu, Moinul Islam Khan, Md Saiful Alam, Md Nurul Islam, Md Abdul Baten, Md Abul Hasnat Abdullah, and Mohammad Abul Hasan.
Secretarial support was provided by Barrister Md Golam Sarwar Bhuiyan, Secretary of the National Parliament Secretariat, Committee Officer Swapan Basar, and Deputy Director (Public Relations) Md Sabbir Mahmud.
