'Promise for change to remain rhetoric sans improvement in power situation'
Monday, 30 March 2009
FE Report
The State Minister for Energy Shamsul Hoque Tuku Sunday said the fulfiment of the government's promise for a change by building a digital Bangladesh hinges on mitigating the electricity crisis.
"If electricity crisis could not be overcome, the government's promise for a change will rather remain a rhetoric," he said.
Concerted and united efforts from all stakeholders are necessary to mitigate the country's long-lasting electricity shortfall, he added.
The minister was speaking as the chief guest at a session on "Energy Sector: Challenges of Adding New Capacity" at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the city. Former adviser of the caretaker government Syed Manzur Elahi chaired the function.
Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), a private think-tank, organised the programme as part of its two-day conference on "Development with Equity and Justice--Immediate Tasks for the Newly Elected Government."
Former secretary to the Power Division M Fouzul Kabir Khan presented the keynote paper.
Speaking at the function, the state minister urged upon all not to protest any government move for the sake of protest.
"Suggestions from the stakeholders and experts are necessary to move forward the country and the nation," Mr Tuku said.
The state minister also said the government would take punitive actions against the corrupt officials under his ministry.
He said if anybody complains against any official involved in corruption, he would conduct an investigation and take punitive action against the persons found guilty.
Mr Tuku also stressed for coal extraction to ensure augmented electricity generation.
He said the people in the vicinity of the Barapukuria coalmine are in favour of coal extraction. They are also in need of livelihood and adequate support to live.
"I have visited the Barapukuria coalmine area immediately after assumption of office and talked with over 2,000 people there," he said.
Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Annisul Huq said the industries are bearing the brunt of the nagging electricity crisis.
Frequent power outages were eating up at least 10 per cent factory productivity only in garment industries, he said.
Quoting a survey result, he said the garment industries were not getting electricity during 20-25 per cent of their total working hours.
"The situation in energy-intensive industries is worst due to the electricity fluctuations," he said.
The government should take immediate action to resolve the power crisis, the FBCCI president said.
The aged power plants should be rehabilitated and public-private partnership could be ensured in this regard, he added.
The FBCCI president stressed the necessity of strengthening the state-owned gas exploration company -- BAPEX - and continuing the hunt for oil and gas.
Former power secretary Dr Fouzul Kabir Khan said the political interference in power sector activities turned the sector into a mess.
"We should stop the blame game," he said.
Former Director General of Power Cell, BD Rahmatullah, said the country's aged power plants could easily be rehabilitated with assistance from original equipment manufacturers.
At least 700 megawatt (MW) of additional electricity could be added to the national grid through rehabilitation, he added.
Professor Nurul Islam of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) said, 'The energy sector is plagued with corruption.'
Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) Research Director Dr Asaduzzaman, Dhaka University professor Dr Hussain Monsur, former Atomic Energy Commission chairman Shafiqul Islam Bhuiyan along with a number businessmen and energy experts took part in the discussion.
The State Minister for Energy Shamsul Hoque Tuku Sunday said the fulfiment of the government's promise for a change by building a digital Bangladesh hinges on mitigating the electricity crisis.
"If electricity crisis could not be overcome, the government's promise for a change will rather remain a rhetoric," he said.
Concerted and united efforts from all stakeholders are necessary to mitigate the country's long-lasting electricity shortfall, he added.
The minister was speaking as the chief guest at a session on "Energy Sector: Challenges of Adding New Capacity" at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the city. Former adviser of the caretaker government Syed Manzur Elahi chaired the function.
Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), a private think-tank, organised the programme as part of its two-day conference on "Development with Equity and Justice--Immediate Tasks for the Newly Elected Government."
Former secretary to the Power Division M Fouzul Kabir Khan presented the keynote paper.
Speaking at the function, the state minister urged upon all not to protest any government move for the sake of protest.
"Suggestions from the stakeholders and experts are necessary to move forward the country and the nation," Mr Tuku said.
The state minister also said the government would take punitive actions against the corrupt officials under his ministry.
He said if anybody complains against any official involved in corruption, he would conduct an investigation and take punitive action against the persons found guilty.
Mr Tuku also stressed for coal extraction to ensure augmented electricity generation.
He said the people in the vicinity of the Barapukuria coalmine are in favour of coal extraction. They are also in need of livelihood and adequate support to live.
"I have visited the Barapukuria coalmine area immediately after assumption of office and talked with over 2,000 people there," he said.
Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Annisul Huq said the industries are bearing the brunt of the nagging electricity crisis.
Frequent power outages were eating up at least 10 per cent factory productivity only in garment industries, he said.
Quoting a survey result, he said the garment industries were not getting electricity during 20-25 per cent of their total working hours.
"The situation in energy-intensive industries is worst due to the electricity fluctuations," he said.
The government should take immediate action to resolve the power crisis, the FBCCI president said.
The aged power plants should be rehabilitated and public-private partnership could be ensured in this regard, he added.
The FBCCI president stressed the necessity of strengthening the state-owned gas exploration company -- BAPEX - and continuing the hunt for oil and gas.
Former power secretary Dr Fouzul Kabir Khan said the political interference in power sector activities turned the sector into a mess.
"We should stop the blame game," he said.
Former Director General of Power Cell, BD Rahmatullah, said the country's aged power plants could easily be rehabilitated with assistance from original equipment manufacturers.
At least 700 megawatt (MW) of additional electricity could be added to the national grid through rehabilitation, he added.
Professor Nurul Islam of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) said, 'The energy sector is plagued with corruption.'
Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) Research Director Dr Asaduzzaman, Dhaka University professor Dr Hussain Monsur, former Atomic Energy Commission chairman Shafiqul Islam Bhuiyan along with a number businessmen and energy experts took part in the discussion.