DHAKA, Feb 24, 2026 (BSS) – The government can get supply of 107 mmcfd gas from the wells of Bhola if effective measures are taken to boost supply from this island field. “Currently, we are supplying 75 mmcfd gas through Sundarban gas company Ltd from Bhola’s six wells,” an official of Bapex told BSS here today. He said some 47 mmcfd gas remains unused due to lack of proper supply system, as there is no pipeline or other system to supply gas to the mainland for industrial usage.  The government has also been working under a project to install a process plant for production of additional 60 mmcfd gas from three other wells-Bhola North-1, Bhola North-2 and Ilisha-1. Installation work of the process plant under the project began in January 2025, which is expected to complete in December this year. According to Bapex, the country can use 182 mmcfd gas from Bhola’s nine wells, which can help mitigate country’s prevailing gas shortage to some extent. The interim government approved an energy sector proposal aimed at strengthening domestic gas exploration and enhancing long-term energy security. The advisers council committee of the immediate past interim government on government purchase approved a project involving the drilling of four appraisal-cum-development wells—Shahbazpur-5, Shahbazpur-7, Bhola North-3 and Bhola North-4—along with one exploration well named Shahbazpur North East-1. The wells will be drilled under an international tender through a one-stage, two-envelope procurement method on a turn-key basis. The total estimated cost of the proposal stands at Taka 907.29 crore.  Sinopec International Petroleum Exploration & Production Corporation, China, was recommended as the responsive bidder. The Bapex official said that initial deal was done with the Chinese company, while physical work is expected to begin in July as land acquisition and site development is another major segment of the project. Officials said that the newly elected democratic government will contribute more to increasing domestic gas production, reducing dependence on imported fuel and strengthening national energy security. 

By S M Zahid Hossain KHULNA, Feb 24, 2026 (BSS) – Farmers in the Khulna region are witnessing new opportunities as vast stretches of saline fallow land turn golden with blooming sunflowers.  Following successful cultivation in coastal belts and low-lying areas, sunflower farming has opened fresh prospects for meeting the district’s edible oil demand. Low production costs, short cultivation periods, and government incentives have encouraged growers to expand their acreage. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Khulna region -- covering Khulna, Bagerhat, Narail and Satkhira, sunflower has been cultivated on 1,219 hectares of land across the Khulna region during the current season, marking an increase of 111 hectares from last year’s 1,108 hectares. The DAE has set a target to produce 2,945 metric tonnes of sunflowers in 1,319 hectares of lands during the current (2025-26) season. The DAE official data shows that at least 92 percent sunflower cultivation was completed until February 23 in the region.  In Khulna, 197 hectares or 36% cultivation were completed against targeted 550 hectares of lands, In Bagerhat 603 hectares of land or 112% were completed against targeted 538 hectares, In Satkhira, 228 hectares or 200% were completed against 114 hectares of lands,  and in Narail, 191 hectares or 163 percent were completed against 117 hectares of lands. Officials expect that around 11.80 lakh (400 liter per metric tonnes) liters of edible oil could be produced in Khulna region, which would help meet the demand of nearly 3 crore people and contribute to saving foreign currency by reducing import dependency. A visit to fields in front of the Model Mosque area in Dumuria today reveals a vast expanse resembling a yellow carpet, with rows of sunflowers swaying gently in the breeze.  Talking to BSS, farmer Abdul Haque said the main objective of sunflower cultivation is oil production.  “We get seven to ten maunds of seeds per bigha. At least half a litre of oil can be extracted from each kilogram of seeds. That means around 140 to 200 litres of oil can be produced per bigha,” he said. Currently, sunflower oil is selling at a minimum of Tk 250 per litre, while the cultivation cost per bigha does not exceed Tk 3,500, he added. Besides oil, the seed cake is also used as nutritious cattle feed. Another farmer, Shahadat Hossain of Kharnia Union in Dumuria, said that although many crops do not perform well on saline land, sunflower yields comparatively better results.  “The crop requires less irrigation and minimal care, which is why more farmers are becoming interested,” he noted. Upazila Agriculture Officer Agriculturist Md Nazmul Huda described sunflower as a promising oilseed crop. He said farmers are being provided with training, quality seeds and fertilisers to boost production.  Farmers in Dumuria, however, stressed the need for government procurement and stronger market linkage to further expand sunflower farming. He added that a large portion of the country’s edible oil is import-dependent, and increased sunflower production could help ease the import pressure. Additional Director of DAE in Khulna Region, Md Rafiqul Islam told BSS this afternoon that 10,650 farmers have been brought under incentive support this season. The DAE also distributed 2, 13,000 fertilisers and 10,650 kgs of seeds to encourage cultivation. He, however, said, each farmer received 10kg of Diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizers, 10 kg of Muriate of Potash (MOP) and 1 kg of seeds against 2 bighas of land. Besides, a total of 240 farmers are exhibiting 40 sunflower fields in 80 acres of lands under the PATNER project, a collaborate farming with farmers and DAE, in four districts of the region, he said, adding that each farmer is showcasing their field in 2 acres of lands. “All 240 farmers also have received BARI-3 sunflower seeds, DAP and MOP fertlisers and pesticides from the government,” he said. With fields across the four districts in the Khulna region now glowing in yellow, sunflower has become not just a flower but a symbol of economic promise for the region, he added.