Bangladesh’s ongoing energy crisis has once again exposed the fragility of its power sector. With frequent load-shedding, rising fuel costs, and an over-reliance on imported fossil fuels, the country’s energy security remains precarious. As the interim government steers the nation through this critical period, short-term measures to stabilize supply must be paired with a long-term commitment to renewable energy -- a shift that is no longer optional, but essential.

According to a recent Dhaka Tribune report, the Meteorological Department has warned that one or two severe heatwaves might occur in mid-to-late April. With rising temperatures, load-shedding has become a daily occurrence in Dhaka and its surrounding districts and rural areas -- averaging two to three hours a day. However, in more remote regions, the extent of load-shedding is far worse and once again raises concerns about our power generation efforts during the summer months.

As far as short-term measures are concerned, the relevant authorities must focus on a number of factors such as optimizing our existing fuel supply, reducing system losses, and of course managing demand which is where strategic load shedding comes into play. However, Bangladesh needs to look beyond short-term remedies as, while these steps can provide temporary relief, Bangladesh’s energy future hinges on reducing dependence on costly, volatile fossil fuel imports.

This is where renewable energy comes into play. While the previous government supposedly set an ambitious target of 40% of our national energy prediction by the year 2041, the administration provided next to no visible progress towards that goal. The onus is now on the interim government to move forward with its own designs on securing our green energy transition, recalibrating existing plans with more realistic targets if need be.

The current energy crunch should serve as a wake-up call. The current administration has a narrow window to implement stopgap measures while laying the groundwork for a cleaner, more resilient energy system.

News Link: A way out of our energy crisis