The government is drawing up a three-year roadmap to gradually cut subsidies in the power and gas sectors, aiming to ease the growing fiscal pressure.

The roadmap, covering FY26 to FY28, is being developed with assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and is expected to be finalised by September. An IMF technical mission visited Dhaka in May and has already drafted a plan.

In a bid to rein in soaring electricity subsidies and generation costs, the government has initiated a plan to reduce expenditure at power plants where it holds full or partial ownership, officials said.

The initial focus will be on trimming operating and maintenance (O&M) costs through discussions and negotiations with state-owned power companies and joint ventures in which the government has substantial stakes.

Under the new arrangement, repayments will now commence in September 2028

Bangladesh has successfully got extended the Russian loan disbursement period for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant until 2027.

No press conferences. No social media fanfare. No credit-taking speeches. Just quiet, focused work that delivered results.

In a country where political promises are often louder than action and where the word "reform" is more likely to show up in party manifestos than in the day-to-day machinery of government, one ministry has shown what meaningful change can look like. Not in theory, not on paper, but in practice.

The interim government has backed down from its "prior re-negotiation" on tariffs as the pre-condition for approval of the commercial operation date (COD) of the 718MW JERA Meghnaghat power plant.

The state-run Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) now intends to approve the COD of the Japanese JERA-owned gas-fired combined cycle power plant before tariff re-negotiation, a source close to the matter told The Financial Express Monday.

While officials that operates the plant, see the G2G approach as cost-effective and quality-assured, experts warn that bypassing open tenders could undermine competition and price transparency

After receiving substandard coal from a private supplier, authorities of the 1,200MW Matarbari thermal power plant in Maheshkhali are pursuing a government-to-government (G2G) deal with Indonesia to secure coal directly from state-owned mines.

The national budget of Bangladesh for the fiscal year 2025-26, proposed at Tk7.9 trillion, reflects a complex interplay of economic priorities and challenges. It comes at a time when demand from various sectors far exceeds the availability of resources. Energy remains a critical resource for many industrial and economic activities of the economy. A stable and uninterrupted energy supply is inextricably linked to productivity, industrial growth and overall economic resilience.

Despite three tender attempts since January last year, the project authority, RPCL-Norinco Int’l Power Limited (RNPL), has repeatedly failed to appoint a long-term provider

Bangladesh's ambitious 1,320-megawatt Patuakhali ultra-supercritical coal-fired power plant stands fully equipped and ready to feed electricity into the national grid. However, months after its two units commenced test runs, this significant investment remains in limbo, plagued by a baffling inability to secure a long-term coal supplier.

The court has directed the power and energy secretary, the chairman and secretary of the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), and the secretary of Power Grid Company of Bangladesh to respond to the rule within eight weeks

The High Court has issued a rule questioning why the government's decision to cancel Letters of Intent (LOIs) for 10 renewable energy projects – where significant groundwork, including land acquisition, has already been completed – should not be declared illegal.

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, is one of the most geopolitically sensitive regions in the world. Nearly one-quarter of the world’s traded oil passes through this strategic passage around 20 to 22 million barrels per day. Even a one-day disruption in this route can have ripple effects across the global energy market, affecting both oil-exporting and oil-importing nations. As an energy-import-dependent developing country, Bangladesh would not be immune to such a shock.

First unit may begin supplying power next year as contractor given two year extension.

The wait for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) to begin supply gets extended even further. Although the transmission lines have been completed, the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant will not be connected to the national grid just yet. The Russian contractor has been given an extension of two years as the work did not finish according to the plan.

Lantabur Group has invested Tk 7 billion (Tk 700 crore) to establish a yarn factory in Trishal, Mymensingh. The construction was completed six months ago, but the factory remains non-operational due to no gas connection, despite receiving a demand note from the authorities back in November 2022.

BANGLADESH stands at a critical juncture in its development journey, where energy, equity and environment intersect in profound ways. As the country aspires to become a prosperous, climate-resilient nation by 2041, it faces the dual challenge of sustaining economic growth while responding to the escalating climate crisis. Central to this transition is the need to reform the energy sector in a way that is just, inclusive and people-centred. A just energy transition is not merely about replacing fossil fuels with renewables; it is about transforming the energy system to serve all citizens equitably, create decent livelihoods and uphold environmental sustainability.

IMF says import reliance, non-competitive contracts, and other factors drive high power generation costs

Electricity subsidies in Bangladesh are doing the opposite of what they are meant to do. Instead of supporting the poor, a major share of the government's subsidy for electricity is being consumed by wealthier households, according to a latest report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The global transition to clean energy is widely recognised as an unstoppable phenomenon, with the critical question being how soon it will occur. For Bangladesh, navigating the energy transition involves more than simply overcoming technological or financial challenges. It also requires addressing social issues, such as health and economic inequalities, and pursuing justice for future generations. A sustainable energy transition demands a greater collective effort from all corners of society, and stronger collaboration between the media and civil society organisations (CSOs) is a key aspect.