Energy crisis challenges clear, time needed to overcome: Commerce Minister

Commerce and Industry Minister Khondkar Abdul Muktadir has said the challenges of the energy crisis are clear, and time must be given to overcome the situation by developing infrastructure.

He made the remarks while speaking to journalists after a district-level workshop on the formulation of the annual action plan for 2026-27 under the project for agricultural development in the Sylhet region using modern technology, held at a hall in Sylhet on Saturday afternoon.

He said increasing the capacity of energy terminals and drilling new wells will boost self-sufficiency, but this will require two years of time.

The minister said investment is needed for economic progress, and the government is making efforts to normalise the energy situation. The government is also trying to import LNG from Malaysia.

He further said the daily energy demand is currently double the supply. Additionally, demand during this time of year is higher than in other seasons, making the crisis more visible.

On the agricultural sector, he said the future target is to get full returns from farming. The government will harness the immense potential of agriculture.