BNP acting secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Tuesday said normal gas supply across the country is expected to be restored by the first or second week of September.

He made the remarks while talking to reporters after paying homage and offering prayers at the graves of BNP founder and late president Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia in the capital’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.

Rizvi said Bangladesh has also been affected by the ongoing global energy crisis particularly due to the US-Iran war and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

“This is a global crisis. Ships cannot come through the Strait of Hormuz because of the US-Iran war and fuel supplies are being disrupted. When one or two ships tried to come bombs were dropped there,” he said.

He said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is taking measures to address the energy crisis,  allocating Tk40,000 crore from the budget for the energy and power sector to resolve the gas shortage.

Referring to the technical problems at the Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) in Maheshkhali, Rizvi said repairs have already been completed and regasification has begun.

“Regasification has now started. Normal gas supply will be ensured by the first or second week of September, and electricity will also be available. We are already seeing some indications of that,” he said.

Speaking about BNP’s founding anniversary, Rizvi said the party believes in politics based on fulfilling its commitments to people.

He said BNP has come to power through a free and fair election and PM Tarique Rahman has been working tirelessly, day and night, to fulfil the pledges made to the people after taking office.