Bangladesh finds itself facing its greatest moment of choice. The intersection of an energy shock from the Middle East, the cut-off of foreign aid, a fragile post-transition economy, and the ongoing Rohingya refugee crisis has put enormous pressure on the new elected Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government. It has very little room to maneuver, and no time to lose. In the discussion below are some of the key priorities of the Bangladesh government to cope with the global crisis. In my opinion, I will try to shed some light on Bangladesh Government's Priorities to Cope with the Global Crisis right now.
The first and the most immediate problem is the lack of energy. In terms of its complete dependence on imported fuel oil and energy, Bangladesh is highly vulnerable to the geopolitical crisis caused by the recent US-Israel-Iran tensions. Bangladesh's near-total dependence on imported fuel over 95% of its fuel oil and 60% of its broader energy needs sourced from abroad has left it dangerously exposed to the disruption. Short-term measures must include emergency procurement of LNG and coal through diversified supplier networks, bypassing over-reliance on any single corridor. The government has already approved emergency fuel purchases, but fair rationing particularly ensuring diesel reaches farmers for irrigation must be enforced rigorously.Medium-term, the government should fast-track investment in domestic renewablessolar and wind which Bangladesh has long delayed in favour of fossil fuel imports. This crisis is, yet again, a clarion call to reorient the country's energy architecture. Every taka invested in renewables today is insurance against the next global shock.The power crisis also demands transparent reporting. Discrepancies between national grid statistics and ground reality must be addressed by independent oversight, not bureaucratic committees that take months to report.
The second one is Protecting Food Security. The fuel shortage is not merely an energy problem it is a food security emergency. Boro rice, which accounts for 55% of Bangladesh's annual rice production, depends heavily on diesel-powered irrigation. A collapse in Boro yields could trigger a food crisis reminiscent of 1974.Due to recent flashflood in haor region, there is a concern that around 1.4-1.5 million tons of rice production may be lost in the haor and low-lying areas combined. This is not only a loss for farmers, but also a major warning sign for national food security.To compensate for the possible shortfall in Boro production, it is crucial to undertake advance planning with a target of increasing Aman production this year. In particular, the potential cultivation area should be expanded from 5.9 million hectares to 6.0 million hectares. The dissemination of flood-, waterlogging-, and salinity-tolerant Aman rice varieties must also be accelerated.
Mobilize strategic food reserves and explore concessional grain imports through bilateral agreements with friendly nations, particularly in Central Asia and Southeast Asia. Expand social safety net programmes such as the Open Market Sale (OMS) scheme to cushion low-income households from food price inflation.Food security is not a rural issue alone. As urban food costs rise, Dhaka's working poor will feel the squeeze acutely.
A government distracted by political score-settling cannot govern
effectively in a crisis. The new BNP government must strike a careful
balance pursuing accountability for past abuses while focusing its
primary energy on the economic and humanitarian emergencies. Governance
reforms including judicial independence, anti-corruption enforcement,
and civil service merit-based appointments will determine whether the
private sector and international investors see Bangladesh as a credible
partner for the long term.
The third important priority should be rebuilding economic resilience. The economy faces a three-pronged external shock the Middle East conflict, US tariff uncertainty, and LDC graduation pressure on top of serious domestic vulnerabilities: a 30% non-performing loan ratio, sluggish private credit growth, and a fragile fiscal position.Fiscal discipline is non-negotiable. The government must resist the temptation to paper over structural problems with costly bank borrowing. IMF-aligned fiscal reforms should be pursued not as externally imposed conditions, but as a national economic imperative.Tax reform is long overdue.
The fourth important priority should be plugging the foreign aid gap.The sudden termination of USAID-funded programmes has left gaping holes in Bangladesh's public health sector. These gaps cannot be allowed to persist.The government shouldNegotiate bilateral assistance agreements with the European Union, Japan, China, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states to partially offset the USAID withdrawal.Provide bridge financing to critical institutions such as icddr,b to prevent the permanent loss of research infrastructure and trained personnel assets that took decades to build and cannot be quickly replaced.Develop a domestic health financing roadmap that reduces aid dependency over the medium term through higher domestic health budgets and innovative financing mechanisms such as health insurance expansion.Bangladesh has historically been a development success story precisely because it built strong NGO and civil society networks. These must not be allowed to collapse for want of short-term funding.Recent reports of child deaths caused by measles have raised serious public health concerns.
The fifth important priority is managing the rohingya crisis with international solidarity. Over a million Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar remain one of the world's largest and most underfunded humanitarian crises. Funding cuts by the WFP have deepened suffering in the camps, and the flow of new arrivals continues as the conflict in Myanmar rages on.The government mustsustain diplomatic pressure at the UN and through ASEAN for a credible repatriation pathway while acknowledging that conditions for safe return do not currently exist.Seek new international pledges, particularly from wealthier nations who have reduced their own refugee intake, to fund camp services, education, and healthcare.The Rohingya crisis, if left unaddressed, risks becoming a permanent feature of Bangladesh's social and security landscape with grave consequences for the southeastern region.
The last but not least, governance reform and political stability is important priority.A government distracted by political score-settling cannot govern effectively in a crisis. The new BNP government must strike a careful balance pursuing accountability for past abuses while focusing its primary energy on the economic and humanitarian emergency at hand. Governance reforms including judicial independence, anti-corruption enforcement, and civil service merit-based appointments will determine whether the private sector and international investors see Bangladesh as a credible partner for the long term.The Cyber Security Act must be fully reformed to guarantee freedom of expression not merely amended at the margins.
Let's deal the crisis as catalyst. History has shown that Bangladesh responds to crises with remarkable resilience. The country confounded the "basket case" label in the 1971s and built a development model admired globally. The current storm though severe need not derail the nation's trajectory.But resilience alone is not enough. What this moment demands are strategic leadership: the courage to pursue hard structural reforms, the honesty to communicate difficult truths to citizens, and the vision to see beyond the immediate crisis toward a Bangladesh that is energy-independent, economically diversified, and institutionally strong.The storm will pass, the question is what kind of Bangladesh will stand on the other side.
The writer is Senior Communication Officer, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI)
