Tarique Rahman today called for US$2 billion in support from development partners to address Bangladesh’s urgent energy needs and protect economic stability amid the ongoing global crisis.
Speaking at the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Plus Online Summit, the Prime Minister stressed the need for quick and coordinated global action.
“The situation demands urgency, solidarity, and decisive action. Immediate support for the most vulnerable countries must be a top priority,” he said.
He warned that the energy crisis has already affected Bangladesh’s economy and could become even more severe, possibly exceeding the impact of the 1970s oil crisis.
To manage the situation, the government has taken several short-term steps, including controlling fuel use, adjusting office and market hours, increasing fuel imports, and introducing measures like the ‘Fuel App’ to prevent hoarding and panic buying.
The Prime Minister said no country can deal with the crisis alone and called for a strong regional response to ensure energy security and support vulnerable nations, especially least developed countries.
He also thanked Sanae Takaichi for organizing the summit, which was attended by leaders from countries including Malaysia, Japan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Timor-Leste.
Tarique Rahman said Bangladesh has made significant progress since independence but warned that those achievements are now at risk due to the ongoing global energy situation.