The government will launch an international investment campaign, including roadshows in the United States and Singapore, to attract global energy companies ahead of the Offshore Bidding Round 2026, as it seeks to revive offshore oil and gas exploration in the Bay of Bengal.
The international promotional campaign is scheduled to run from mid-August to mid-September and will include roadshows, participation in major global energy conferences and direct engagement with international oil companies (IOCs), officials said.
As part of the campaign, electronic invitations have already been sent to 106 IOCs, while Bangladesh's diplomatic missions abroad have been instructed to actively promote the licensing round among prospective investors.
"We will launch an international promotional campaign to attract international oil companies," Energy and Mineral Resources Division (EMRD) Secretary Mohammad Saiful Islam told reporters.
The strategy was discussed at a recent EMRD meeting chaired by Saiful Islam, where officials reviewed plans to prepare presentations, brochures and promotional videos highlighting Bangladesh's offshore hydrocarbon potential.
The meeting also directed state-owned Petrobangla to identify an international public relations firm to support the global marketing campaign and prepare a list of major international energy conferences where the licensing round could be promoted, along with the estimated participation costs.
"We are planning to organise side events at major international energy and hydrocarbon conferences in Houston in the United States and Singapore," Petrobangla Chairman Md Abdul Mannan said.
Officials also agreed to engage companies with experience in organising international licensing rounds and investment promotion, including firms involved in previous offshore bid rounds, to strengthen Bangladesh's outreach to potential investors.
The campaign comes as Bangladesh attempts to revive offshore exploration after previous licensing rounds failed to attract major international operators.
