Prime Minister Tarek Rahman has sought Malaysia's support to help ease Bangladesh's ongoing gas crisis during a phone call with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Power, Energy and Mineral Resources State Minister Anindya Islam Amit disclosed the development while speaking to reporters at the Secretariat on Tuesday, as per local media reports.
He said the two prime ministers spoke by phone at around 2:00 pm Bangladesh time. During the conversation, Tarek Rahman requested Malaysia's assistance in addressing the country's fuel shortage.
According to the state minister, Anwar Ibrahim assured Bangladesh that he would immediately discuss the matter with his team and the relevant ministries to explore possible ways to help. He also promised to inform the Bangladesh government of the outcome as soon as possible.
Amit said the government was working around the clock to reduce the suffering caused by the shortage. Petrobangla, RPGCL and other energy agencies are continuing efforts to improve gas supply, while the prime minister is closely monitoring the situation.
He said Bangladesh is unable to meet gas demand at present and is seeking Malaysia's help to narrow the gap between demand and supply. The government is also exploring the possibility of importing more liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Malaysia, along with technical advice and other forms of support.