Gas supply has increased significantly and the positive trend will continue, Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson Mahdi Amin said on Wednesday, as the government outlined its progress during its first seven months in office.
At a special press conference at the PMO’s Karobi Hall, Mahdi said the improvement followed Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s directive to address the gas crisis.
“Implementation of what the prime minister said started within a very short time. Gas flow has increased considerably, and we can see visible improvement in the situation,” he said.
The government has taken initiatives to keep industries operational and maintain economic momentum, while pursuing action plans on youth, education and IT, living standards, women, social protection, energy, climate-resilient industrialization, healthcare, connectivity, traffic management, governance and foreign relations.
Since the elected government took office on February 17, it has focused on rebuilding after 16 years through transparency and accountability, Mahdi said.
Moody’s recently revised Bangladesh’s sovereign outlook to stable from negative while retaining its B2 rating. The government expects this to support foreign investment, trade and employment.
Measures announced include a new national pay scale, mobile allowances, net pensions of up to 100% and a Tk3,000 monthly allowance for children with special needs. Land management is being made more transparent, long-term postings have ended, and parents will retain lifetime use and possession of property after donation. A national award is planned for 100 best teachers, while Journalists Welfare Trust grants, Family Cards, Farmer Cards and increased allowances for imams and muezzins have also been introduced.
The government is considering modern housing in Karail, Bhashantek and Tala slums with Chinese financing.
Energy and power
The government plans 150 new gas wells in the medium term and another 150 in the next phase. It aims to increase FSRUs from two to five, with a third before 2028 if possible, and has given in-principle approval for 18 LNG cargoes through global companies under direct procurement. It is also seeking $1 billion in international financing to expand Eastern Refinery.
A total of 1,046.73MW has been restored to the grid. Plans include 200MW of solar power, converting diesel irrigation pumps to solar within five years, solar systems at 300 electricity-free primary schools in Rangamati, rooftop-solar incentives and a 42.5MW waste-to-energy project at Aminbazar.
Health and transport
The government plans 15-storey specialized general hospitals in Dhaka and all eight divisional cities, international corporate management for Super Specialised Hospital, affordable dialysis services in every district and upazila, and expansion of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogra to 1,800 beds.
Mahdi said 19.771 million children had received measles-rubella vaccines in five months. Dengue wards have been opened and a three-month cleanliness campaign launched.
Feasibility studies and designs are underway for electric traction on the Dhaka-Chittagong corridor. Plans also include a four-lane uninterrupted expressway from Dhaka to City Gate in Chittagong, cashless automated tolls, relocating Karwan Bazar’s wholesale vegetable market to Gabtoli and moving Fulbaria bus terminal to Keraniganj.
Governance and workers
Courts have sentenced seven people to death in cases related to alleged mass killindxgs. In five cases, 50% of the assets of those sentenced were ordered confiscated, with proceeds to support victims and injured people through the July Foundation and statutory bodies.
Permanent appointment letters were given to eligible members of 74 families of people who died in the July mass uprising. Parliamentary standing committees were formed quickly, with regular meetings made mandatory. Government documents will no longer use “His Excellency” or “Honourable” before the president and prime minister. Other measures include “One Citizen One IT” and modern service centers at police stations in all 64 district headquarters.
The government paid $2.0476 billion toward foreign-loan principal and interest in five months, while remittances rose 13.1% in six months.
A cybersecurity network is planned to prevent cyber harassment and violence against women, alongside universal stipends for female students and a permanent nutritious school-food system. Modern loan quotas are planned for 20,000 tea workers in Sylhet, Moulvibazar and Habiganj.
Agreements have been reached with 22 international law firms in 13 countries to protect Bangladeshi workers, while virtual prisoner-family meetings and new overseas labor markets are also being pursued.
Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman said the prime minister supports press freedom but that the media should not misuse public trust to spread misinformation. He also alleged that some individuals in India were distorting the issue of temple demolitions despite government development work at a temple, while similar misinformation was being spread in Bangladesh.
On gas pressure, Ruman said the prime minister spoke only after receiving confirmation and expressed hope that pressure would rise further within a day.
PM Speechwriter ASM Mahfuzur Rahman, Press Secretary Saleh Shibli, Deputy Press Secretaries Zahidul Islam Rony and Suzon Mahmmud, Assistant Press Secretary Nazmul Haque Khan and other PMO officials were present.