An acute shortage of gas in the capital is a storied phenomenon that dates back several decades from now, and a problem that is seemingly insurmountable no matter how much we advance as a nation.
From households to entire industries, this shortage affects Bangladeshis in a very direct way. Recently, residents of areas such as Mohammadpur, Jatrabari, Mirpur, and others have reported a crisis in the gas supply for nigh on two months.
What is doubly irritating about this particular instance of a gas shortage is that it seems to have been born out of minor technical issues that could have been avoided if proper maintenance and monitoring were in place, problems which have led to the gas supply being reduced by around 400 million cubic feet per day.
For a nation that is still quite reliant on this natural resource, this is simply unacceptable.
Problems such as these would be easily predicted and remedied through comprehensive monitoring, a concept which seems to evade not just gas or energy, but practically every industry in our nation.
While measures are currently underway to prop up the acute shortage in gas supply, primarily through importing expensive LNG from other countries, these are seemingly bandaids being applied to a gaping wound
Not only does the government and relevant authorities need to do a better job in maintaining existing gas fiends, they also need to start exploring newer ones. Not to mention looking into more sustainable and cheaper avenues such as introducing induction stoves into more households.
Bangladesh is still far too reliant on natural gas as a resource for us to play it fast and loose with existing supplies. More needs to be done, and it needs to be done right now.
