Dhaka, Sept. 9 -- Bangladesh has become Asia's most active buyer of spot LNG cargoes - an unlikely new heavyweight in one of the world's most volatile energy markets. Once largely self-sufficient in natural gas, the country now leans heavily on imported fuel to keep its factories running and its power sector alive. The shift is dramatic: gas still meets 43% of Bangladesh's total energy needs, but domestic production is falling, reserves are dwindling, and the gap is being filled at a soaring cost. What began as a stopgap after shortages in 2017-18 has snowballed into structural dependence, pushing Bangladesh into the spotlight of the global LNG trade - and exposing the financial and systemic weaknesses that brought it there.
* Bangladesh h...