M. Tamim

In a way, Bangladesh maintains a vertically integrated state monopoly in the power sector.

Bangladesh has been struggling with primary energy supply since 2007, a long 17 years. Unfortunately, the focus was never to solve this fundamental problem sustainably but to build more power plants that are visible and carry larger political mileage.

There will be no short-term solution to Bangladesh's energy woes unless the economy and dollar inflow improve.

Fossil fuel and electricity subsidy is widely provided all over the world. A subsidy is a product of the political economy. Access to affordable energy is now a basic human right.

The reason for the amendment given by the government – pointing to subsidies and time-consumption – does not stand scrutiny.

If the government itself fixes the price, will public interest be preserved?

The world is going through one of the worst energy crises in recent times, even if we compare it to the situation that arose out of the 1973 Arab oil embargo.

Human society uses 10 times more energy today than it did in the early 20th century. While wood, coal and animal power dominated the energy scenario before the Second World War, the transition to oil and gas (hydrocarbon) started in the 1940s through 1970s.