Bangladeshis are living in peace and happiness, but some people cannot tolerate it, Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) Minister Tajul Islam said on Thursday.
There are people who try to pinpoint the issue of local currency depreciation and price hike of essentials as examples of the government's failure, but these are global problems, he said.
"We are better positioned compared to many (countries)," he added.
Mr Islam was speaking at the deal signing ceremony of the construction of a waste-to-energy plant, in a city hotel.
State-run Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC), and Chinese firm U&D inked the deal to develop the power plant at Jhalkuri in Narayanganj city. The plant will generate around 6.0 megawatt (MW) of electricity from garbage.
The NCC will supply some 600 tonnes of garbage to the U&D plant to generate the 6MW electricity, while the BPDB will purchase it at a rate of 20.19 US cents per unit (around Tk 20 per unit) for a period of over 25 years.
A number of associated agreements were signed among the parties to implement the project under which the NCC will provide 10 acres of land to set up the incineration and power plant at Jhalkuri in Narayanganj city while the U&D will complete construction of the project and start commercial operation within 15 months from the financial closing.
Speaking at the function, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said the government was continuing its efforts to increase electricity generation from renewable energy sources.
Research works are being done to significantly increase electricity generation from solar, wind, water and waste, he said.
The use of electric vehicles (EVs) is gaining popularity and the government is preparing vehicle-charging guidelines to increase the use of EVs, added the state minister.
Currently, some 910.82 MW of electricity is being generated from renewable energy sources and 1,442 MW from some 32 projects at the implementation stage.
Some 76 more projects having the generation capacity of 4,632 MW are in the pipeline.
NCC Mayor Salina Hayat Ivy and Power Secretary Habibur Rahman also spoke on the occasion.
azizjst@yahoo.com
