"In addition to commercial business, a successful energy deal between India and another country of the region will help reduce India's energy import from the world market, which in turn will help in achieving the energy security of the United States," Prof M Nurul Islam said.

Probably this is why, Prof. Islam pointed out, the American energy policy recommended that the president should direct the secretaries of state and energy to work with the Indian authorities to help India maximise its domestic oil and gas production.

Presenting a paper on "Energy Development Strategies for Bangladesh" at a seminar here yesterday, Prof Islam, a teacher of the University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) said: US politicians are committed to undertake policy decisions favouring the business activities of their oil companies.

Bangladesh Economic Association (BEA), Institute of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) and Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) jointly arranged the seminar at IEB auditorium. Other experts also presented papers on a number of energy related issues at the seminar.

Prof Islam, also Director of the Institute of Appropriate Technology of BUET said: The main objective of USAID funded SARI/Energy project was to facilitate the US companies to implement energy development projects in South Asia region.

In this context, he also pointed out that during the last five years Bangladesh has been unduly pursued by one international oil company (IOC) and pressurised by their allies to export natural gas to India.

"On the basis of hypothetical and speculative quantity of natural gas resources (32-42 TCF) it has been argued that Bangladesh has large reserve of gas to commit export," he said in his paper at the inaugural session.

Prof Islam praised the successive governments for rightly respecting the views of the great majority of people on the contentious issue of gas export despite external pressures of the IOCs and their allies.

He said researchers proposing energy cooperation in South Asia need to recognise and appreciate the political realities that operate behind the deals relating to the US and India. "Bangladesh should consider energy cooperation deals by ensuring long-term energy security of the country."

Qazi Kholiquzzaman of BEA presented a paper on "Regional Cooperation towards Energy Security in Bangladesh" where he emphasised developing cross-border energy trade based on hydro-potentials of Nepal (43,000MW) and Bhutan (20,000MW).

FBCCI President Abdul Awal Mintoo, who presided over the session, said Bangladesh should seriously consider about its energy security as it is directly linked to poverty alleviation, economic development and empowerment of people.