The government celebrates the Power and Energy Week 2018, starting from today (Thursday), to mark the significant increase in the country's electricity generation capacity to 20,000 megawatt (MW).
The capacity was around 4,942 MW in 2009.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will formally inaugurate the week at a function at the International Convention City, Bashundhara in the city.
The Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources (MPEMR) has organised a three-day exhibition, as part of celebrating the power and energy week this year, from September 06 to 08 across the country.
The theme of this year's event is "Anirban Agami" (Inextinguishable Future).
A number of foreign guests including Nepalese energy, water resources and irrigation minister and top officials of American GE and Germany's Siemens would be participating in the exhibition.
The power and energy ministry organised a press briefing at Biduyt Bhaban in the city ahead of the occasion on Wednesday.
Speaking at the press conference, Prime Minister's energy affairs advisor Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury said this year's event will provide a "unique opportunity" to get innovative ideas on strengthening the country's power and energy sector as many youths from different universities have already submitted their innovation.
State minister for power and energy Nasrul Hamid said that the government would celebrate the country's power generation capacity enhancement during this event to highlight the successes of the government.
"One of the main objectives of this year's Power and Energy Week is to focus the success and make it memorable," he said.
The ministry has aligned its plan with the Prime Ministry's Vision 2041 to generate 60,000 MW by that year, he said.
This year's programme would involve new generation and organise a career fair to pave the way for their internship and subsequent appointments in different power and energy companies, he added.
The ministry has chalked out an elaborate programme to celebrate the week.
The three-day power and energy fair will be held at the same venue, where more than 100 public and private entities will showcase their products and services.
Four seminars will be held on different topics to make interactions among the stakeholders in the sector.
In the inaugural function, officials of different public entities will be awarded for their best performances while journalists will also be given awards for their best reporting.
The government has been celebrating such power and energy week in every September over the past few years as part of its development campaign.
Alongside the central event in Dhaka this year, different entities in power and energy sector will organise different programmes to highlight the government's success in the sector.
Already, three best speakers on power and energy developments have been selected from 5,000 school and college students across the country through competition. The selected students will receive awards at the function.
Responding to a query, energy secretary Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem said the government has been working for the industrial development through import of LNG (liquefied natural gas).
LNG would be imported considering the market requirement and its capacity to absorb, he added.
Power Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus said the oil-fired power plants would be phased out from next year with the implementation of coal-fired power plants.
Azizjst@yahoo.com