Powering The Promise | Energy Pledges For Political Parties

A clear vision is needed for harnessing the country's own fuel resources using modern, environmentally sound technologies.

- By Saleque Sufi

A diversified and affordable fuel mix should guide the nation's transition toward clean energy.

Given Bangladesh's current realities, the transition to renewables must be gradual and pragmatic.

The race to Bangladesh's next general election has already begun, with political parties gearing up for February 2026. As campaign promises take shape, one issue stands out as critical to the nation's future - energy security. Bangladesh's long-term economic growth and development goals are now under serious threat from an increasingly fragile energy supply chain. Misguided policies, bureaucratic inefficiency, and shortsighted strategies have left the country facing power overcapacity, a severe fuel shortage, and heavy dependence on expensive imports.

The consequences are already visible: industries are struggling to operate, foreign and local investment has slowed to a crawl, and many small and medium enterprises have shut down. Unemployment is rising, export earnings are shrinking, and confidence in the country's economic resilience is waning. Any political party hoping to lead the nation must present a credible, realistic, and time-bound energy policy that can restore stability and growth.

Energy and Power Must Be Treated as Strategic Sectors

For a developing economy like Bangladesh, energy and power are not just utility services-they are strategic assets. All political parties must commit to a unified and transparent master plan for the energy and power sectors, complete with an implementation roadmap that ensures consistency and investor confidence.