Bhola-Khulna gas pipeline targeted for completion by 2030.
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit today said the government is working to bring natural gas from Bhola to Khulna through pipelines by 2030 to address the region's longstanding energy shortage and accelerate industrialization.
The government has also started assessing the feasibility of setting up an LNG terminal in the region and is taking initiatives to restart idle power plants that have remained shut due to a lack of fuel, he said.
He made the remarks while addressing the divisional exhibition and evaluation ceremony of the national science and technology competition titled "In Search of Future Scientists-2026", organised by the Ziaur Rahman Foundation at Khulna University as the chief guest.
The state minister said Khulna was once renowned worldwide for its jute mills, which made significant contributions to the national economy.
However, many industrial units have since closed due to their inability to remain competitive and the lack of gas and uninterrupted energy supplies.
Despite considerable industrial potential in Khalishpur, Daulatpur and Mongla, the region has failed to realise it because of energy shortages, he added.
Amit said the government planned to establish a special economic zone in Mongla while a major economic zone was also being developed in Abhaynagar upazila of Jashore district.
However, these initiatives would not become fully effective without a reliable gas supply.
Against this backdrop, the government is pursuing the pipeline project to bring gas from Bhola while examining the feasibility of an LNG terminal.
He recalled that former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia had announced a plan in 2005 to provide gas connections to Khulna Division by 2007.
Regarding power generation, the state minister said three power plants in Khulna, including the 880MW Rupsha power plant, with a combined generation capacity of around 1,400MW, remained idle due to fuel shortages. The government was working to bring these plants back into operation.
He said initiatives were also underway to restart power plants in Mongla, Khalishpur, Daulatpur, Abhaynagar in Jashore and Bhairab Bazar.
Praising the innovative projects developed by participating students, Amit said initiatives involving salt-tolerant rice cultivation, early flood warnings, fuel production from kitchen waste and biomass, modern fish-farming technologies and livestock disease detection could help solve real-life problems.
He expressed hope that the Ziaur Rahman Foundation would continue supporting promising innovations, particularly those capable of bringing meaningful changes to people's lives, and help ensure their practical application beyond the competition.
The minister said his ministry had funded a pilot project at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) to produce biofuel from kitchen waste.
Following its success, steps were being taken to expand the initiative commercially in collaboration with Khulna City Corporation.
He also announced plans to restructure the corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes of companies under his ministry to introduce scholarships for meritorious students.
Besides, arrangements were being considered to provide students of electrical and mechanical engineering with internship opportunities lasting one to three months at power plants.
Highlighting the foundation's activities, he said it had long been supporting the education of children whose parents were victims of enforced disappearances, murders and extrajudicial killings, as well as providing medical assistance to underprivileged people and support to disaster-affected communities.
He also recalled the contributions of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman to the establishment of Khulna University and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia to its development.
Khulna University Vice-Chancellor (VC) Professor Dr Md Rezaul Karim chaired the programme while Whip of the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Rakibul Islam attended as a special guest.
Khulna City Corporation (KCC) Administrator Nazrul Islam Manju and university teachers and officials also spoke at the event.
