Bangladesh, July 22 -- The government has announced plans to privatise electricity distribution and allow private companies to import petroleum products, saying the initiatives are intended to reduce subsidy burdens, improve efficiency and rebuild an energy sector left heavily dependent on imports after years of what it described as poor planning under the Awami League government.

Speaking at a policy conclave titled "Energy Security & Transformation of Bangladesh" organised by Bonik Barta in Dhaka on Wednesday, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmood said the government had already received the prime minister's approval in principle to move ahead with the privatisation of electricity distribution companies.

"I...