Bangladesh faces severe power cuts as gas imports plunge amid Iran conflict

Power shortages hit Dhaka households

Residents of Bangladesh’s capital report that the only reliable time for cooking is early morning, when limited piped gas is still available. The city, home to nearly 40 million people, experiences early evening darkness as authorities have ordered shops and public lighting to shut down by 7-8 pm to conserve energy.

Gas supply collapse linked to regional conflict

The government attributes the crisis to the war between the United States and Iran, which has blocked the Strait of Hormuz and halted shipments of liquefied natural gas that provide almost half of Bangladesh’s energy needs. Official figures show daily gas demand of about 107-113 million cubic metres, while available supply is roughly 74 million cubic metres. Between July and August, LNG imports fell by 83%, and a fire on 21 July disabled one of the country’s two floating LNG terminals, further straining the system.

Social impacts and uncertainty

Load-shedding has exceeded 3,000 MW at its worst, forcing early closure of markets and leaving streets dark, which commuters say raises safety concerns. A national food-security monitor projects that an additional 3 million people could become food-insecure by the end of the year, an 18% increase from the summer estimate. The situation remains fluid, with the extent of future gas deliveries and the duration of the regional conflict still unverified.