The deepening gas crisis -- and the country’s growing reliance on imported fertilizer as a result -- should be treated as a structural alarm bell.
That Bangladesh has to import more than two-thirds of its fertilizer requirements, according to data from the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) and the agriculture ministry as a result of chronic gas shortage is truly alarming.
Delayed reforms and an energy strategy that has not kept pace with rising demand has led us to confront what could lead to a severe crisis of food security if not dealt with. Fertilizer production is a cornerstone of food security and for it to be increasingly dependent on imports is nothing if not worrying.
To say this is not sustainable would be an understatement; a country of 170 million cannot afford to have its agricultural backbone exposed to global price shocks and supply disruptions. Gas shortages have already forced repeated shutdowns of fertilizer factories. The long‑term risks to food security as a result of this are among the most challenging issues looming for our nation.
Bangladesh has known for years that domestic gas reserves were declining. Yet exploration has lagged, renewable expansion has been slow, and energy diversification has remained limited to aspiration rather than action.
The result is a widening gap between demand and supply -- one that cannot be closed by short‑term fixes or emergency imports.
This is a reality we must confront with seriousness. That means accelerating exploration, modernizing gas infrastructure, expanding LNG capacity responsibly, and investing in renewables with urgency rather than caution. It also means improving efficiency across industries, reducing wastage, and ensuring that energy pricing reflects actual costs so that planning is realistic.
The fertilizer sector’s struggles are a symptom of a larger problem. If Bangladesh does not act now, more sectors will face similar disruptions -- leaving our already shaky economy in dire straits.
