Narsingdi, Sept 24 (V7N) – Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain today said Bangladesh would not accept dominance by anyone; rather the country wants to build friendly relations with neighbouring countries based on mutual interests and equality.

"We do not accept anyone's dominance. We want friendship based on mutual interests," he said, adding that the people of Bangladesh would not accept any form of dominance when it comes to the country's independence, sovereignty and national interests.

The minister made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the Katabaria Complaint Centre under the Monohardi Zonal Office of Narsingdi Palli Bidyut Samity-2, according to a press release.

About the power sector, Sakhawat said, "The fascist Awami government siphoned off a huge amount of the country's money abroad in the name of quick rental power plants." He said eight gas-based power plants in the country had remained shut since the fascist regime, while Myanmar and India are extracting gas from their respective maritime areas on the two sides of the Bay of Bengal.

The minister further said that the then government had not drilled a single gas well in Bangladesh's maritime territory. He said efforts are now underway to restart the closed power plants by importing gas at high prices. At the same time, Sakhawat said, initiatives have been taken to drill several gas wells offshore through foreign companies. "If sufficient gas is found from these wells, it will be possible to further increase electricity generation in the country," he added.

Bangladesh has been facing a severe energy crisis, with gas supply falling to its lowest level in a decade in August 2026. The government has been taking various measures to address the crisis, including increasing domestic gas production, expanding LNG imports, and promoting renewable energy. The government has also launched a bidding round for 26 offshore blocks—11 shallow and 15 deep-sea blocks—under the Offshore Model Production Sharing Contract 2026 to attract international investment. The minister's remarks reflect the government's emphasis on energy security and self-reliance.

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