The International Monetary Fund (IMF) urges Bangladesh to phase out power and energy sector subsidies, revealing a potential 78% electricity price increase. The Electricity Development Board recommends gradual adjustments for affordability. The Power Development Board (PDB) review outlines four phases to eliminate subsidies, emphasizing the need to reform the power sector facing escalating government subsidies.
PDB seeks a Tk39,535 crore subsidy in the 2022–23 fiscal year. The review suggests price adjustments to reduce subsidies, projecting increased coal consumption and 10.09% electricity growth in the current fiscal year. Critics advocate for cost reduction through efficiency improvements and eliminating overpriced power deals, emphasizing the impact on underprivileged communities. The government aims to explore subsidy reduction without burdening the public excessively.