Prime Minister Khaleda Zia had earlier made it clear that Bangladesh would export gas only after assessing the local demand and ensuring adequate reserves, the finance minister said.

"I'm not against the export of gas, but the decision would be taken after assessing gas reserves and local demand for 25 to 30 years. A cabinet meeting will take the decision on this," Saifur told reporters yesterday.

Earlier, the minister indicated that the government might go for gas export provided it is advantageous to the country.

"There are contrasting views on the issue, but we have to take a decision based on the economic reality," he told officials of the Planning Commission and External Resource Division on Monday.

"No resource is a resource as such, if it remains under the soil and is not properly utilised," the minister told The Daily Star Monday afternoon.

The BNP in its election manifesto made it clear that all necessary measures would be undertaken to increase revenues from oil, gas and other mineral resources to bolster up the economy.

Priority, however, would be given to meeting the domestic need, it said.

Source:
The Daily Star
Wed. October 17, 2001