Gas Crisis Now Threatens Our Food Security 

Less than a week ago, in an editorial, we cautioned that the country’s worsening gas shortage was putting the RMG sector under severe strain. Today, the crisis has assumed an even more alarming dimension.
 
According to a recent report published in this newspaper, inadequate gas supply is now disrupting fertiliser production, threatening agricultural output and food security. The report shows Bangladesh’s fertiliser demand stood at 5.785 million tonnes in FY2025-26, while 5.479 million tonnes had already been distributed between July and April. Even more upsetting is that government stocks have fallen to just 306,000 tonnes - well below the recommended safety reserve of 400,000 tonnes. Although there is no immediate shortage, the shrinking buffer is a matter of grave concern as the country prepares for the next Boro season, which accounts for the largest share of annual rice production.

However, Jamuna Fertiliser Factory has remained closed for months because of inadequate gas supply, while Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Limited (CUFL), Ashuganj Fertiliser Factory, the DAP plant at Anwara and other facilities have also faced prolonged disruptions. Against this backdrop, the decline in domestic production is forcing the country to rely more heavily on imported fertiliser at a time when global markets remain uncertain. It is also causing financial losses, leaving costly industrial assets underutilised and affecting the livelihoods of thousands of workers, transport operators and dealers. More importantly, delayed fertiliser supplies could reduce crop yields and push up food prices in the coming months.

Increasing dependence on imports, however, is not a sustainable solution. Bangladesh has repeatedly experienced how geopolitical tensions, disruptions to shipping routes and fluctuations in global energy prices can increase costs and delay supplies. Higher imports would also put additional pressure on the country’s foreign exchange reserves. Restoring adequate gas supply to fertiliser factories should therefore become an immediate priority. At the same time, the government must continue efforts to increase domestic gas production, improve transmission infrastructure and ensure a stable energy supply for sectors critical to the national economy and food security.

The crisis also highlights the importance of transparency. Farmers, businesses and consumers deserve regular updates on the country’s gas supply situation, the reasons behind the shortage and the measures being taken to address it. Clear communication would reduce uncertainty, strengthen public confidence and enable stakeholders to plan accordingly. Concurrently, policymakers must adopt a long-term strategy to address the structural weaknesses in the gas sector so that similar crises do not recur.

It must be remembered that energy security and food security are closely linked. Therefore, restoring unimpeded gas supply to fertiliser plants, rethinking strategic fertiliser management and ensuring uninterrupted supplies before the Boro season must be a top priority. Delayed action could translate into lower agricultural production, higher food prices and greater hardship for farmers and consumers in the days ahead.