Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has requested $2 billion (200 crore USD) from development partners to meet Bangladesh's emergency energy needs and maintain economic stability.

Speaking at the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Plus Online Summit on Wednesday (April 15), the Prime Minister emphasized that the current global situation demands urgent action and decisive leadership.

"Ensuring emergency assistance for the most vulnerable nations should be at the top of our collective agenda," he stated, urging the international community to respond swiftly and positively to the appeal.

Addressing the Energy Crisis
Highlighting the ongoing global energy crisis, the Prime Minister noted that no single nation can tackle these challenges alone. He called for coordinated and visionary steps among Asian countries to strengthen regional energy security and address supply disruptions.

To mitigate the impact on the national economy, the Prime Minister outlined several short-term measures implemented by the government, including:

Demand Management: Adjusting schedules for government offices and markets.

Supply Stabilization: Increasing emergency fuel imports and securing alternative sources.

Consumer Controls: Implementing fuel rationing and retail limits.

Digital Monitoring: Launching initiatives like the ‘Fuel App’ to prevent hoarding and panic buying.

A Warning of Economic Stagnation
The Prime Minister expressed concern that the scale of the current crisis could surpass the oil crisis of the 1970s, which led to development stagnation in the 1980s. He remarked that while Bangladesh has worked tirelessly since its 1971 independence to achieve growth and poverty reduction, the current crisis poses a "real risk" of reversing those gains.

"Bangladesh is not alone in this crisis; therefore, it cannot be tackled through individual efforts," he said, calling for a robust and integrated global initiative to protect least-developed and vulnerable countries from social and economic disaster.

Summit Highlights
The Prime Minister extended his gratitude to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for organizing the timely summit. The virtual event featured heads of state and government from Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Timor-Leste, including Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman joined the summit virtually from the Parliament Building. He was accompanied by Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman and Foreign Affairs Adviser M. Humayun Kabir.