The government is struggling to attract buyers for the natural gas discovered in Bhola, as international firms have shown no interest in converting it into liquefied natural gas (LNG) and transporting it to the industrial zones near Dhaka.

Officials at the Energy and Mineral Resources Division (EMRD) said the plan to monetise Bhola’s estimated 5.0 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas remains stalled due to a lack of interested customers, even as industries in Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Gazipur, and parts of Cumilla continue to face an acute gas shortage.

The plan envisions awarding contracts to international companies to build liquefaction and transport facilities. However, local entrepreneurs have shown little interest, preferring conventional gas supply lines over new LNG-based systems.

Industrialists have voiced mixed reactions. Anwar Alam Chowdhury Parvez, president of the Bangladesh Chamber of Industries, said investment in infrastructure will be viable only if the government ensures a steady supply. He also noted that many industrial zones lack land for LNG-receiving facilities.

Cement manufacturers, meanwhile, welcomed the initiative but urged direct government engagement with end-users. “The government must remove middlemen who distort the market,” said Amirul Hoque, president of the Bangladesh Cement Manufacturers Association.

Other business leaders raised concerns over cost. Mohammad Mustafa Haider, managing director of Samuda Chemical Complex and a director of TK Group, said converting and regasifying LNG is expensive and may not be commercially viable unless pricing is competitive.

Some investors have suggested developing Bhola and Barishal as industrial hubs to use the gas locally, arguing that the Padma Bridge has already improved regional connectivity and opened opportunities for decentralised industrial growth.