Six months into the tenure of the BNP-led administration, public discontent has intensified over severe disruptions across Bangladesh’s fuel, gas, and electricity sectors. Widespread load-shedding and fuel scarcity have brought urban centres and rural communities to a near standstill, crippling industrial production and commercial enterprises.

Government officials attribute the deepening crisis to external and inherited factors, pointing to operational accidents at floating Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminals, geopolitical tensions surrounding the war in Iran, and the legacy of policies enacted by the previous administration. However, energy analysts and policy experts argue that while external pressures and historical missteps are real factors, administrative shortcomings within the present government are significantly worsening the situation.

Data reflects the growing severity of the shortfall. On a recent Thursday afternoon, national power outages exceeded 3,500 megawatts. This follows a peak deficit on 10 August, when load-shedding reached 3,757 megawatts, marking one of the highest levels recorded in recent years.

Evaluating the performance of the energy sector over the past six months, Anu Muhammad, former member secretary of the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports, noted that six months is admittedly a short window to resolve systemic energy issues. Nevertheless, he expressed concern over the absence of clear administrative direction. He highlighted that rather than identifying root causes and introducing corrective measures, policy attention appears directed towards expanding business opportunities for specific domestic and foreign corporate entities.

Critique has also emerged regarding the balance between immediate intervention and long-term planning. B.D. Rahmatullah, former Director General of Power Cell, observed that while the government has outlined a long-term scheme to generate 10,000 megawatts of solar power by 2031, it lacks a coherent short-term emergency response. He stressed that effective crisis management requires a three-tiered approach encompassing crash, medium-term, and long-term programmes. According to Rahmatullah, key institutions—including Power Cell, the Power Development Board, and the Ministry of Power—have yet to formulate an immediate strategy to stabilize the grid and alleviate immediate public suffering.