The government will try to adjust domestic fuel prices quickly if international prices stabilise or fall, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindaa Islam Amit said on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting at the Meherpur district administration conference room, Amit said Bangladesh imports fuel oil and that there is a state of war in the countries from which it imports, noting that the conflict has pushed up fuel prices worldwide.

Shipping and insurance costs have also risen alongside international prices, the state minister said, adding that the government had tried to manage the situation without raising fuel prices for six months before being forced to adjust them.

The meeting was held to monitor and coordinate government activities, including law and order, corruption and drug control, good governance, transparency and accountability, public welfare and development work.

On solar power, Amit said specifications had been finalised for imported equipment and that the Power Division was working to prevent substandard goods from entering Bangladesh.

He urged individuals and institutions installing rooftop solar panels to check the quality of the equipment, comparing the process to choosing a fridge or television. Whether the installation is on a private roof or at a government institution, the person or institution installing the panels is responsible for checking that the equipment meets the required standard, Amit said.

The state minister identified health and education as sectors the government wanted to prioritise. Positions exist at district and upazila hospitals, but staff have not been posted to them, while schools and colleges face teacher shortages, he said. As a result, the government cannot deliver the desired level of service in health and education. Filling the vacant posts quickly would immediately improve service quality, he said.

Amit added that facilities not yet operating, including Meherpur Nursing Institute, would be brought into operation quickly.

Projects in the pipeline for Meherpur’s development will be addressed through discussions with the relevant departments, the state minister said.