Sensitising parties about grim energy situation
Saturday, 22 November 2008
Shahadat Hossain
Sensitising the potential policy makers of the country to the very pressing need of increasing energy supply is much important in the backdrop of energy-starved conditions in the country. All concerned would express the hope that in the remaining weeks until the scheduled election, different civil society organisations would continue to hold discussions with the leaders of the political parties. Pressures do need to be piled on major political parties to be absolutely committed with new and unshakable promises, to address the country's very worsened conditions from the poor energy supply.
In this context, representatives of top political parties were invited to a recent seminar organised by the Forum of Energy Reporters of Bangladesh (FERB) at Jatiyo Press Club. The leader of a major political party who was present in the seminar informed the participants there about his party's plan to produce some 5,000 mw of power or 1,000 mw on annual basis if they win in the election. No such specific commitment came from the representatives of other political parties. But they should have also come up with similar pledges. If they still do not have any plans on the boards in this regard, it is high time for different forums representing the civil society, to launch a concerted move to engage the leaders of the political parties in discussions to impress on them the seriousness of the issue.
It is worthwhile to recall here that the apex chamber body in the country, the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FBCCI), also organised a seminar recently to tell the political parties that they should agree on some rules to be observed before the election to remain true to them after it (the election) such as agreeing to give up hartal, not to boycott parliament, etc. Similar seminars may now be organised by the FBBCI and other bodies, to specifically make aware the political parties that they cannot and must not any more pay only secondary consideration to the issue of increasing energy supplies but that the same must be addressed on a war footing.
The aim should be to imprint the message firmly in the minds of the top leadership of the parties that they should go to work to increase energy supply right from their first day in office -- if they go to power -- because the issue is so serious. If this is done, they would be under a greater compulsion to work more dedicatedly and promptly perhaps, to address the energy issues on being elected to power. So, the pressure must be mounted and maintained on them to this end.
Sensitising the potential policy makers of the country to the very pressing need of increasing energy supply is much important in the backdrop of energy-starved conditions in the country. All concerned would express the hope that in the remaining weeks until the scheduled election, different civil society organisations would continue to hold discussions with the leaders of the political parties. Pressures do need to be piled on major political parties to be absolutely committed with new and unshakable promises, to address the country's very worsened conditions from the poor energy supply.
In this context, representatives of top political parties were invited to a recent seminar organised by the Forum of Energy Reporters of Bangladesh (FERB) at Jatiyo Press Club. The leader of a major political party who was present in the seminar informed the participants there about his party's plan to produce some 5,000 mw of power or 1,000 mw on annual basis if they win in the election. No such specific commitment came from the representatives of other political parties. But they should have also come up with similar pledges. If they still do not have any plans on the boards in this regard, it is high time for different forums representing the civil society, to launch a concerted move to engage the leaders of the political parties in discussions to impress on them the seriousness of the issue.
It is worthwhile to recall here that the apex chamber body in the country, the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FBCCI), also organised a seminar recently to tell the political parties that they should agree on some rules to be observed before the election to remain true to them after it (the election) such as agreeing to give up hartal, not to boycott parliament, etc. Similar seminars may now be organised by the FBBCI and other bodies, to specifically make aware the political parties that they cannot and must not any more pay only secondary consideration to the issue of increasing energy supplies but that the same must be addressed on a war footing.
The aim should be to imprint the message firmly in the minds of the top leadership of the parties that they should go to work to increase energy supply right from their first day in office -- if they go to power -- because the issue is so serious. If this is done, they would be under a greater compulsion to work more dedicatedly and promptly perhaps, to address the energy issues on being elected to power. So, the pressure must be mounted and maintained on them to this end.