Bangladesh’s power subsidies highest among neighbours despite low use
Bangladesh has the highest per capita power subsidies among its four neighbouring countries, including India and Pakistan, despite having the second-lowest per capita consumption, according to an analysis by the Bangladesh Independent Power Producers Association (BIPPA).
20 January 2025
Clear $845m by June to avoid late charges
India’s Adani power has asked Bangladesh Power Development Board to pay $845 million in arears by the end of June or face charges for late payment.
19 January 2025
Government debt now in uneasy territory
Government debt increased 13.3 percent last fiscal year to a record Tk 18.3 lakh crore, raising concerns about repayment amid the low revenue mobilisation.
9 January 2025
Tk 9,000cr unpaid bills: Power producers warn of supply disruption
The Bangladesh Independent Power Producers Association (BIPPA) has urged the government to clear half of its overdue payments, amounting to Tk 9,000 crore, within the next 10 days or contend with disruptions to the electricity supply during Ramadan.
8 January 2025
Gas crisis hits households, industries
Inadequate gas supply has been forcing Farzana Akter and Rabiul Islam to eat at restaurants every morning for two weeks.
7 January 2025
Major gas price hike in the works for industrials
Industrial and captive power connections would soon have to pay a much higher tariff for gas usage after the ministry of power, energy and mineral resources decided in principle to implement a new pricing structure to reflect the fluctuating global market.
6 January 2025
15Th amendment to constitution: HC scraps part that abolished caretaker system
In a landmark verdict, the High Court yesterday scrapped a part of the 15th amendment to the constitution that abolished the non-partisan caretaker government system.
17 December 2024
Offshore gas exploration fails to attract foreign firms
Seven global oil and gas companies purchased tender documents for gas exploration in the Bay of Bengal, but none submitted the papers within the deadline, which ended yesterday.
9 December 2024
No foreign firm shows interest in Bay of Bengal gas exploration
Seven purchased tender documents, but none submitted papers finally
9 December 2024
Reliance on captive power weakens PDB
Captive power, which the industrial sector in Bangladesh leans on heavily, has been weakening the financial health of the Bangladesh Power Development Board (PDB) by costing it customers that pay the highest tariffs.
4 December 2024
Summit, Petrobangla disputing $22m bill
Summit has run into a payment dispute with Petrobangla over a $22 million bill for the four months its floating LNG terminal was out of commission as a result of damages from cyclone Remal.
3 December 2024
$234 billion siphoned off during AL rule
A total of $234 billion was siphoned off from Bangladesh between 2009 and 2023, according to the white paper on the state of the economy.
1 December 2024
The first night of curfew and a surprise ‘abduction’
It was a clear moonlit night. There was a slight breeze. An eerie quiet blanketed the streets.
29 November 2024
$14b a year lost to capital flight during AL years
Bangladesh has lost around $14 billion a year on average to capital flight during the Awami League’s 15-year tenure, according to the draft report of the committee preparing a white paper on the economy.
28 November 2024
Nagorik committee: Members split over ex-Shibir leader joining
Jatiya Nagorik Committee has included a former top leader of Islami Chhatra Shibir in its extended central committee, ignoring objections from a section of committee members.
26 November 2024
Power, Energy Sector: Arrears, subsidies weighing down govt
The interim government is struggling to pay the power bill arrears that were caused largely by “unfair” contracts signed between the previous administration and power producers, and rising international fuel prices.
22 November 2024
Now coal power plants scaling back production
Coal-fired power plants are dialling down production or even shutting down due to financial, legal or technical issues, leading to power cuts across the country, especially the rural areas.
3 November 2024
Outstanding bills: Adani halves power supply to Bangladesh
India’s Adani Power Jharkhand Limited has halved its power supply to Bangladesh, saying it has yet to receive outstanding bills.
1 November 2024
Heatwave cost Bangladesh $21b last year
Heat exposure had severe economic consequences for Bangladesh last year, leading to an estimated income loss of $21 billion due to reduced labour capacity, according to the latest Lancet Countdown report.
31 October 2024
AL govt put finance adviser, BB governor in legal trouble
The immediate past Awami League government’s failure to settle an international arbitration claim has left Bangladesh in a legal tangle in the US, leading to a surprise judicial order against two top officials of the interim government during their official visit to Washington last week.
29 October 2024