Dhaka, April 20 -- Members of Parliament from opposition parties have called for an urgent parliamentary debate on the country's worsening fuel and gas shortages, warning that official claims about the situation bear little resemblance to the reality faced by ordinary citizens.

Opposition leader Shafiqur Rahman voiced strong frustration in the Jatiya Sangsad on Monday, describing the energy crisis as "the most burning issue" confronting the country. He submitted an adjournment motion seeking a dedicated discussion on the matter during a session chaired by Deputy Speaker Kaiser Kamal.

Opening his remarks, Rahman said the public expected parliament to address the crisis head-on. "This is now the country's biggest problem. Yet we are unabl...