Energy security can be ensured through using gas for development instead of making plans for export of gas, they said.

They also cautioned Bangladesh might face a situation like in Nigeria if gas is exported.

Samaj Rupantar Adhyayan Kendra, a civil society think tank, organised the roundtable on "Energy security of Bangladesh" at the Jatiya Press Club.

Presenting the keynote paper, Nuruddin Mahmud Kamal, former chairman of Power Development Board (PDB), said energy is the key to a country's development.

"There is a strong correlation between per capita energy use and economic development. But Bangladesh is at a lower ebb in terms of energy use compared to many developing countries," he added.

About 13.3 crore people in the country do not have access to gas connection and they even do not have the opportunity to use kerosene, he said.

The former PDB chairman said a vested quarter in association with foreign oil companies has been spreading false information about gas reserve in Bangladesh.

Presenting the current dismal scenario in the energy sector, he said, "Due to gas and electricity crisis, economic and social development of the country was interrupted in last one decade.

"Production in the industrial sector could be increased by 10 percent if the electricity supply was uninterrupted," Kamal observed.

He also said load shedding and low voltage have landed the industries in energy insecurity.

He suggested that gas exploration must be expedited as the current reserve of natural gas can meet the country's 15 years' demand.

Addressing the roundtable, Prof Badrul Imam of Dhaka University's geology department said energy use must be increased if Bangladesh wants to enhance industrial production.

"In terms of commercial energy use, the country is 70 percent dependent on natural gas. We have to be careful about gas resources as no other country depends on gas for energy like Bangladesh does," Prof Imam said.

He said a handful of people are damaging the country's interest while dealing with foreign oil companies.

"It's very unfortunate that our policymakers don't care about people's interest while signing contract with foreign oil companies," he said.

On Fulbari coal mine development in Faridpur, he said the government has to be extra vigilant there.

Prof Imam also cautioned if the government is not careful and vigilant about energy resources, the country might face energy insecurity in near future.

Prof Anu Muhammad of Jahangirnagar University said, "If we're not careful about our energy resources, Bangladesh may suffer a fate similar to Nigeria's.

"Energy security of a country might be jeopardised even if the supply of energy is higher than demand," he added.

He slammed the successive governments for not "protecting the country's interest" while making deals with foreign companies.

Prof Ahmed Kamal of Dhaka University said energy resources must be handled with care, as it is the basis of a country's development.

He demanded that the names of the people, who have damaged the country's interest, should be made public.

Prof Serajul Islam Choudhury, engineer Amanul Islam Chowdhury and M Inamul Haque also addressed the roundtable.