Benefits of Sheikh Hasina’s Visionary Initiative: Gas Extraction Begins from Srikail Gas Field

Bangladesh has started to reap the benefits of the far-sighted initiatives taken by the previous Awami League government to strengthen the country’s energy security. As part of this effort, gas extraction has officially begun from well No. 5 of the Srikail gas field in Muradnagar, Cumilla.

According to relevant sources, the new well will initially supply about 8 million cubic feet of gas per day (MMCFD) to the national grid on a trial basis. With this addition, a total of around 17 million cubic feet of gas per day will be supplied from the five wells of the Srikail gas field. Energy experts believe this supply will play an important role in meeting the country’s growing energy demand.

The Srikail gas field was first announced as a discovery in 2004. However, due to faulty drilling operations carried out during the tenure of the then government, no gas was found at that time and the project eventually stalled. The energy sector during that period was also marred by controversies and allegations of corruption, which hampered the development of domestic gas exploration.

After coming to power, the Awami League government renewed efforts to maximize the use of the country’s domestic energy resources. As part of that initiative, exploration and development activities at the Srikail gas field resumed with modern technology and improved technical planning.

In 2020, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally inaugurated Srikail as the 25th gas field of Bangladesh. Experts say the strategic and bold decision taken at that time has now paved the way for successful gas extraction from the new well.

Energy analysts believe that the government’s emphasis on domestic gas exploration and production has helped Bangladesh move gradually away from heavy dependence on imported energy. At a time when the global energy market is facing volatility, increased supply from local gas fields is considered a major step toward strengthening the country’s energy security and economic stability.

They also note that the start of gas extraction from the new well at the Srikail gas field is not only a success of a single project but also a reflection of long-term planning and strategic vision in Bangladesh’s energy sector.