News Desk

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said the government has adopted a 10-year development plan for Bangladesh’s power and energy sectors, with several aspects of the strategy currently under review.

The Prime Minister made the disclosure during the question-answer session in the National Parliament on September 2, responding to a supplementary question from treasury bench member Md Mobasher Alam Bhuiyan of Cumilla-10.

“We have already adopted a plan outlining what the government will do for the energy and power sectors over the next 10 years. Some examinations and reviews are underway,” Tarique Rahman said.

He said the government’s long-term strategy would be aimed at strengthening the country’s energy security while supporting broader economic development. According to the Prime Minister, the government wants to shape the power and energy sectors in a way that contributes to its target of transforming Bangladesh into a trillion-dollar economy by 2034.

Tarique said the minister responsible for the Energy Ministry would soon present the government’s plans before Parliament and the people. The presentation is expected to outline the major priorities and proposed measures for the sector over the coming decade.

The Prime Minister also addressed questions concerning the possible development of coal resources at Phulbari in Dinajpur. Responding to a supplementary question from opposition lawmaker Sabikun Nahar Munni, he said the government was considering ways to address the country’s energy crisis while giving priority to both public interests and environmental protection.

He described the coal deposit at Phulbari as one of the highest-quality coal reserves in the world and said its extraction could potentially help reduce the country’s energy shortage and save foreign currency.

However, he acknowledged that open-pit mining could have significant consequences for local communities. Such a project could affect homes, agricultural land and the livelihoods of people living in the area.

“If open-pit mining is undertaken, naturally there are homes and agricultural land in the area. As we do politics for the country and its people, our first consideration will be how to resettle those people,” the Prime Minister said.

He stressed that any resettlement programme would have to ensure that affected residents were not deprived of their livelihoods. The government would also seek ways to ensure that local people could benefit from any development project undertaken in the area.

Tarique Rahman said environmental concerns would also receive due consideration before any decision is made on open-pit coal mining. He indicated that the government would assess the economic, social and environmental implications of the proposal before determining its next course of action.

The remarks come as Bangladesh continues to face the challenge of ensuring reliable and affordable energy supplies while maintaining economic growth. The government’s proposed 10-year power and energy strategy is therefore expected to play an important role in determining future investments, fuel sources and energy infrastructure.

The parliamentary session began at 3:30pm with National Parliament Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, in the chair. A 30-minute question-answer session had been allocated for the Prime Minister.

During the session, Tarique Rahman answered four of eight written questions as well as six supplementary questions, providing lawmakers with an overview of the government’s approach to the country’s energy challenges and long-term economic ambitions.