Dhaka, April 17 -- The Institute for Planning and Development (IPD) has raised concerns over significant "deficits" and regional "bias" in Bangladesh's energy distribution, warning that failing to ensure energy equity could lead to an unmanageable "national crisis".

At a dialogue on energy crisis and urbanisation, held at the Bishwo Shahitto Kendro on Friday, planners and experts argued that current distribution policies favour affluent urban pockets while leaving rural areas and the urban poor in the dark.

While rural regions consistently face more power cuts than cities, the organisation noted that even within urban centres, energy distribution is far from fair.

The IPD said there is a clear disparity in electricity access between vi...