Dhaka: The government will start providing imported gas to the industries in Chittagong region from the 1st half of the next year while those in Dhaka region will get gas gradually afterwards.

Energy Secretary Nazimuddin Chowdhury disclosed the plan on Wednesday while addressing a seminar at the Petrobangla auditorium on the occasion of the National Energy Security Day.

He said all the necessary arrangements are being made to import LNG to meet the country's growing demand. "We hope no one can say from next year that industrialisation is being impeded due to the energy crisis," he told the seminar informing that he had a meeting with businessmen in Chittagong on the import of gas.

The secretary claimed that businessmen in Chittagong had agreed with the price of imported gas offered by the government. But he did not mention the price.

He said the Energy Division will hold a meeting with the businessmen in Dhaka over the price of imported LNG.

However, the seminar was informed that 122 percent duty was waived from the import of LNG and it was replaced by only 15 percent VAT.

Prime Minister's Energy Adviser Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, who was the chief guest at the seminar, said the government has been pursuing various ways to meet the shortage of energy.

Terming the decision of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to purchase gas fields from a foreign company a historic one, he said it greatly contributed to the current gas production.

The seminar was also addressed by Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Monwar Islam and Petrobangla Chairman Abul Mansur Md Faizullah.
 Energy Division's Deputy Secretary Moniruzzaman and PRGCL Manager Kazi Md Anwarul Azim made two presentations on pipeline construction plan for fuel transportation and LNG import.