Summer and usual power crisis

Power crisis is a usual phenomenon for us during the summer. Power outage is regular and frequent. It tends to get worse with every passing day until winter. Not only our day-to-day life is affected due to power shortage, industrial production in the country also suffers a lot as electricity is indispensable to keep the wheels of the economy running. It is well known that compared to the size of our economy our energy infrastructure is inadequate and poorly managed. The per capita energy consumption in Bangladesh is one of the lowest in the world and still we are struggling to maintain the minimum flow.
Although the country's power generation capacity has increased over the years, it is getting increasingly expensive and is nowhere near the requirement. After 42 years of liberation, we have not been able to chalk out a long tem plan to meet our energy requirement. Short-term solution to the problem like quick rental will only make things worse in the long run. We must rise to the occasion and take up a master plan for a sustainable solution of the crisis. Last year's day-long nationwide blackout is still fresh in our memory and as citizens we need to be assured that a similar situation will not be repeated.

Ameruzzaman Khan
Mirpur, Dhaka