Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said on Sunday that the government is working to resolve the country’s energy crisis, but it will take at least two years.

“Nothing can be solved within six months, nothing can be solved within one year. The minimum time is two years,” he said while speaking at an event organised by the American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AMCHAM).

The finance minister said the economy cannot move forward without adequate supplies of gas and electricity.

“I can assure you that we are trying to get everything done as quickly as possible,” he said.

Khosru said a substantial amount of electricity has been generated in the power sector, but transmission has emerged as a major challenge.

“The power mix or energy mix are issues that we are in the process of finalising from a policy perspective,” he added.

Industries, Commerce, Jute and Textiles Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir made a similar assessment on Saturday.

“It will take about two years to resolve the problems and build the necessary infrastructure, including setting up a new FSRU (floating storage and regasification unit) and laying pipelines,” he told journalists in Sylhet.

A combination of severe technical disruptions and an acute fuel shortage has triggered widespread power outages across Bangladesh, causing immense public suffering, disrupting industrial production and sparking unrest in several districts.

In response, the authorities have imposed strict energy-saving measures across the retail and commercial sectors.

Under new guidelines issued by the Power Division on August 12, shopping malls, markets and retail stores must operate strictly between 11:00 am and 8:00 pm. Illuminated billboards must be switched off by 7:00 pm, while decorative lighting remains prohibited.