Bangladesh’s Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud, has informed the National Parliament that five coalfields have been discovered within the country to date. The announcement came as a response to a written question submitted by Selina Sultana, a reserved women’s seat MP from the ruling party, during the 12th day of the second and first budget session of the 13th National Parliament on Monday. Minister Mahmud detailed the findings in his response. Further details regarding the location and potential yield of these coalfields were not immediately available. The discovery could potentially impact Bangladesh’s energy independence and economic development. The government is expected to outline plans for exploration and utilization of these resources in the coming months.