Gas extraction has officially started from well number 5 of the Shrikail gas field in Muradnagar, Cumilla. The inauguration took place on Saturday, led by State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit. According to Bapex officials, the well will add 8 million cubic feet of gas per day to the national grid, with an estimated reserve worth about Tk 3,000 crore. Energy and Mineral Resources Division Secretary Md. Saiful Islam attended as a special guest.

During the ceremony, the state minister emphasized that domestic gas production will help reduce import dependency and achieve self-sufficiency. He also stressed transparency and accountability in all operations. Bapex Managing Director Engineer Md. Fazlul Haque stated that gas has been discovered in eight out of 23 exploratory wells drilled so far.

Officials highlighted that the government is prioritizing gas extraction to save foreign currency and strengthen Bapex’s capacity, as imported gas costs several times more than domestic production.