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FOR decades, Bangladesh has relied on unclean cooking fuels, including wood, charcoal, dung, agricultural residues, and coal. The combustion of these fuels releases harmful smoke, contributing to severe cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses, particularly among women, who primarily undertake household cooking. While progress has been made in expanding access to cleaner alternatives — such as liquefied petroleum gas, biogas, piped natural gas and electricity — the improvement has been slow and inadequate. Bangladesh lags behind all other South Asian nations in clean cooking fuel accessibility, with only 28 per cent of its population having access in 2022, far below the regional average of 66 per cent, according to the World Bank. Comparatively, India, Pakistan, Nepal, and even Afghanistan have fared better, while Bhutan and the Maldives have nearly universal access.

The divide is even starker between urban and rural communities. In 2022, 59.3 per cent of urban Bangladeshis had access to clean cooking fuels, compared to a mere 11 per cent in rural areas. This disparity has widened over time, growing from 35 percentage points in 2000 to 48.2 percentage points by 2022. Such figures highlight Bangladesh’s failure to align with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 7.1.2, which mandates a significant increase in clean cooking fuel adoption. The reality is dire — one in three Bangladeshis lacks access, and in rural areas, only one in eleven residents has access to clean cooking fuels. This limited access has significant health, environmental, and gender-related consequences that require immediate attention.

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Barriers to accessibility

A RANGE of economic, social, and policy-related barriers continue to obstruct Bangladesh’s transition to clean cooking fuels, especially in rural areas. Addressing these challenges requires a multidimensional approach that targets both systemic inefficiencies and cultural resistances.

The high costs of domestic clean cooking fuel production and the expensive imports of improved cookstoves make clean energy inaccessible for many Bangladeshis, particularly rural households, which tend to be poorer. Limited affordability keeps them reliant on cheaper, unclean alternatives. Compounding the problem, inadequate infrastructure and inefficient supply chains restrict clean fuel distribution, particularly in remote areas. Additionally, limited access to credit and the difficulty in securing loans further hinder clean fuel adoption in rural communities.

A lack of financial incentives for businesses to invest in clean cooking technologies exacerbates the issue. While some microfinance institutions have introduced loan programmes targeting energy solutions, their reach remains insufficient. Without greater financial support, local businesses struggle to produce affordable clean cooking solutions at scale. The government’s inability to regulate fuel pricing effectively has also resulted in fluctuating LPG prices, making it difficult for lower-income households to commit to cleaner fuel alternatives long-term.

Cultural habits and social norms also play a crucial role in perpetuating the use of unclean fuels. Many rural households engage in ‘fuel stacking,’ using a mix of clean and unclean fuels, as food cooked over traditional solid fuels is often perceived to have a better taste. Moreover, peer and community pressures make it difficult for individuals to break from conventional practices. Cooking fuel choice is sometimes tied to social status, reinforcing resistance to change. Gender dynamics further exacerbate the problem — women, who are primarily responsible for cooking, often lack the agency to make decisions about fuel use. Without empowerment, their role in driving the transition to clean energy remains limited.

There is also a general lack of awareness about the health risks associated with unclean cooking fuels. Many rural households do not fully comprehend the long-term dangers of inhaling smoke and pollutants daily. Without widespread educational campaigns, behavioural change remains slow, even in communities where cleaner alternatives are available. Additionally, the persistent undervaluation of women’s labour within households means that the health risks they bear are often overlooked in energy decision-making processes.

Policy missteps have also hampered progress. Despite the national action plan for clean cooking (2020–2030) aiming for universal access by 2030, little progress has been achieved. Experts cite the reluctance to integrate electricity into cooking fuel policies — due to concerns about pressure on the national grid — as a significant hindrance. The absence of a robust top-down approach in clean energy policymaking, alongside ineffective monitoring of improved coostove initiatives, has further slowed the transition. Additionally, the failure to reduce production and supply costs of improved cookstoves has made these technologies unaffordable for many rural households.

The lack of targeted subsidies for clean cooking technologies remains another pressing issue. While the government provides subsidies for LPG distribution, they are often poorly implemented, benefiting middle-income urban consumers more than the rural poor who need them most. Additionally, corruption and inefficiencies within distribution networks result in uneven pricing, further disadvantaging marginalised communities.

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Path forward

A CONSOLIDATED effort is required to overcome these economic, social, and policy barriers. The focus must be on enhancing both the availability and affordability of clean cooking fuels.

The private sector should be incentivised to invest in clean cooking fuel technologies, particularly in developing efficient cookstoves. Strengthening supply chains — especially in rural areas — is essential to ensure that increased production translates into better accessibility. Collaboration with non-governmental organizations and development agencies can also improve delivery mechanisms, particularly for LPG distribution, which currently suffers from underdeveloped rural networks.

Additionally, integrating grid connectivity into clean cooking policies is critical for the expansion of electric cooking solutions. However, this must be done strategically to avoid overwhelming the national grid. Tackling electricity theft — especially in informal sectors — could help conserve energy for cooking purposes. Off-grid electrification initiatives should also be expanded to reach un-electrified rural areas.

Investment in renewable energy sources such as solar and biogas should also be prioritised. Solar-powered cooking technologies and community biogas projects could provide sustainable alternatives, particularly for rural households without reliable electricity access. These solutions not only promote clean cooking but also align with broader climate resilience goals.

To make clean cooking fuels financially accessible, production costs must be subsidised, allowing for cheaper local manufacturing of clean fuels and cookstoves. Reducing import barriers on clean cooking fuels would lower supply costs, making these options more affordable for marginalised households. Policymakers must also reconsider frequent price hikes on LPG, which exacerbate financial barriers for low-income families.

Biogas production offers an alternative solution. Promoting low-cost biogas digesters can enable the conversion of animal manure — previously used as an unclean fuel — into a clean energy source. Moreover, introducing low-collateral credit schemes could help rural households finance their transition to clean cooking fuels. Strengthening financial literacy would further aid marginalised households in managing the cost of switching from unclean to clean fuel sources.

Changing cultural perceptions surrounding cooking fuels is imperative. Awareness campaigns must highlight the health and environmental hazards of unclean fuel combustion while emphasising the benefits of clean alternatives. Educating consumers on the long-term financial savings of using clean fuels — particularly by comparing fuel costs with future medical expenses related to smoke exposure — could drive behavioural change.

Furthermore, dismantling gender-based social norms is crucial. Women must be empowered to participate in household decision-making regarding cooking fuel choices. This requires broader socio-economic changes, including pro-rural development policies that create job opportunities for both men and women. Increasing rural employment would not only enhance household income but also improve clean fuel affordability.

Bangladesh stands at a critical juncture in its transition to clean cooking fuels. Without targeted economic, social, and policy interventions, millions will remain trapped in hazardous, outdated cooking practices. To meet its SDG commitments and protect public health, the nation must prioritise the widespread adoption of clean cooking fuels through affordability initiatives, supply chain improvements, and cultural transformation. The path forward demands urgent and concerted action to ensure a cleaner, healthier future for all Bangladeshis.

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Muntasir Murshed is a research fellow at the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies.