Desk Report:
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has sought $2 billion in aid from development partners to meet Bangladesh’s urgent energy needs and maintain economic stability.
Addressing the virtual conference of the Asia Zero Emission Community Plus Summit held on Wednesday (April 15, 2026), he said that the current global situation demands urgent action, unity and strong decision-making. He called for ensuring emergency assistance, especially for vulnerable countries, to be placed at the top of the collective agenda.
The Prime Minister called for a quick and positive response from the international community, saying that the ongoing global energy crisis has clearly highlighted the interdependence and vulnerability of countries around the world. He warned that no country can deal with this crisis alone. A coordinated and far-sighted initiative is needed among Asian countries to strengthen regional energy security and remove supply disruptions.
He also said that the energy crisis is already having a negative impact on the Bangladesh economy. The government has taken various short-term steps to deal with the situation. These include demand management by changing the timings of government offices and markets, increasing fuel imports on an emergency basis, initiatives to use alternative sources, fuel rationing and setting limits on retail sales. In addition, technology-based initiatives such as the ‘Fuel App’ have been taken to prevent hoarding and panic buying.
The Prime Minister expressed concern that the scale of the current crisis could be worse than the 1970s oil crisis, which once stalled global development activities.
She recalled that since independence, Bangladesh has made significant progress in economic growth, poverty alleviation and improving the standard of living. However, she warned that the ongoing crisis poses a real risk of setting back that progress.
The Prime Minister said that Bangladesh did not face this crisis alone, so it cannot be resolved through a single effort. A coordinated global initiative is essential to protect the least developed and vulnerable countries from potential economic and social disasters.
She thanked Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for organizing the conference.
The virtual conference was attended by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and heads of state and government of Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and East Timor. The Japanese Prime Minister delivered the closing speech of the conference.
The Prime Minister addressed the conference virtually from the Parliament House in the afternoon. Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman and Foreign Affairs Advisor M Humayun Kabir were present at the event.
