The government has given approval in principle to procure 18 cargoes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) directly from TotalEnergies to meet gas demand amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

The approval was given at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, which considered a proposal from the Energy and Mineral Resources Division.

Under the proposal, Bangladesh will procure two LNG cargoes a month from October 2026 to June 2027, totalling 18 cargoes.

The government may also procure additional LNG cargoes from TotalEnergies, if necessary, subject to mutual agreement between the two sides.

The LNG will be procured through direct purchase under international procurement procedures, reflecting the government's efforts to ensure adequate gas supplies amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty and the risk of disruptions in global energy markets.

The decision comes as Bangladesh continues to face pressure on domestic gas supplies, with imported LNG playing an increasingly important role in meeting demand from power plants, industries and other consumers.

The committee also gave approval in principle to a separate proposal from the Ministry of Home Affairs to integrate the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS), Passenger Name Record (PNR), e-Visa, e-TA and a Sovereign Data Analytics Platform with the country's existing immigration management system.

The proposed immigration system will be implemented for national security purposes through a separate procurement process and direct contracting under Section 68(2) of the Public Procurement Act, 2006.

Another proposal from the Local Government Division also received approval in principle to implement a Waste-to-Energy project in areas under Chattogram City Corporation through the public-private partnership (PPP) model.

The project aims to generate electricity from city waste while addressing the growing waste management challenges in the port city.