Govt Mulls Additional Bonds to Settle BPDB’s Tk 42,000 Crore Dues

Turkey has expressed strong interest in investing in Bangladesh’s renewable energy, automobile manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, ICT, logistics, and construction sectors. During a recent meeting between Turkish Trade Minister Prof Dr. Omer Bolat and Commerce Adviser Sk. Bashir Uddin, discussions focused on increasing trade, obtaining halal food certification, and forming an Economic Commission. Both countries aim to strengthen cooperation and diversify trade beyond the textile sector, with Turkey keen on expanding investments in Bangladesh's special economic zones.

The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) will save approximately Tk760 crore in fuel oil import premiums during the first half of 2025 due to relaxed tender conditions and strong negotiations.

Several power projects approved without tender by the Awami League regime, ousted in August 2024, continue to receive excessive capacity charges, with some being up to 73% higher than they should be, as per a BPDB analysis.

About four and a half months before a student-led mass uprising overthrew Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the energy ministry issued an order allowing United Power to make excessive profits. The order, dated March 25, 2024, allowed United Power’s two plants to receive gas at the independent power plant (IPP) rate, against a Supreme Court order.

The Payra 1,320MW Thermal Power Plant in Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali has resumed full production following a two-month halt for maintenance works on its second unit and test runs of a neighbouring facility. The second unit began generating electricity at around 9:30pm on Tuesday after completing maintenance that began on November 9, 2024.

The Bangladesh Independent Power Producers Association (BIPPA) has urged the government to clear Tk 9,000 crore in overdue payments within 10 days to avoid disruptions to electricity supply during Ramadan.BIPPA highlighted the critical nature of the delayed payments, which have been overdue for over five months and more than three years in total.