Episode 1: Over the past decade and a half, Bangladesh's power sector has undergone an unprecedented transformation. In January 2009, when the new government took power, the country was grappling with a severe power crisis. Rural areas endured over 8 hours of daily load-shedding, while mega-cities like Dhaka experienced 2 to 4 hours of power outages every day. Against a demand of 5,500 MW, the national grid supplied only 4,200 MW.

To tackle the situation, the government initiated targeted measures with specific goals of 'Zero Load-Shedding' and 100% electrification. While power generation capacity was a modest 5,719 MW in FY 2008–09, it quadrupled to reach 22,482 MW by 2022 and currently stands at nearly 29,000 MW. An unprecedented milestone was achieved as electricity coverage expanded from 47% in 2009 to reach 100% of the population by 2022.

Statistics and Growth Indicators (2008–09 to 2024): • Generation Capacity: Increased from 5,719 MW to 22,482 MW (a 293% growth). • Peak Generation: Increased from 4,162 MW to 14,792 MW (a 255% growth). • Per Capita Consumption: Increased from 151 kWh to 464 kWh (a 207% growth). • System Loss: Reduced from 16.85% down to 10.41%.

At the core of this rapid development was cross-border power importation from India (thousands of megawatts are currently fed into the grid from India and the Adani Group), the modernization of Kaptai and other power stations, and an increased reliance on furnace oil and LNG for swift power delivery.

The Energy Dependency Trap Behind the Success:

However, despite the surge in infrastructure and generation capacity, a massive deficit remained in the supply of 'Primary Energy'. As reserves in domestic gas fields rapidly depleted without adequate new exploration, Bangladesh became excessively dependent on imported Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), coal, and furnace oil. Behind this success story lay clear early warnings that this fragile glass wall could shatter the moment fuel prices spiked on the international market. (To be continued... Next episode tomorrow)

Author: Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury, Politician & Mayor, Sylhet City Corporation.