Stress on good governance, affordable energy, quality services

Speakers at a webinar on Thursday opined for good governance, availability of affordable energy and quality services to consumers of power and energy sector to ensure the country’s overall economic growth.

They also suggested exploration of onshore and offshore blocks and quick retirement of expensive and inefficient oil-fired power plants to streamline the sector.

The speakers opined these during the discussion at the virtual seminar titled, “‘Bangabandhu: Energy Security and Today’s Bangladesh.”

Forum for Energy Reporters Bangladesh, or FERB, and Bangladesh Independent Power Producers’ Association, or BIPPA, jointly organised the virtual seminar to commemorate the historic decision taken by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to take over operation of five gas fields from Anglow-Dutch Shell Oil at a cost of 4.5 million pound on August 9, 1975. 

State minister for the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, or MPEMR, Nasrul Hamid was the chief guest at the function, while former Bangladesh Bank Governor Mohammed Farashuddin, who was also the personal secretary of Bangabandhu was the special guest at the function.

Speaking on the occasion Mr Hamid said the government is working to ensure affordable and quality power and energy and ensure good governance for sustainable growth of this sector.

He said the government has opened up the scope of using multi-energy sources to reduce the risk of depending on any specific sort of energy and reduce the risk in future, if any.

Completion of the ongoing construction work of Single Point Mooring, Dhaka-Chittagong oil-carrying pipeline will save around Tk 10 billion annually, he said.

It will also help stopping oil pilferage of vested quarter, he said.

Mr Hamid also said stressed running public buses, private cars, rails, three-wheelers on electricity for smooth operations at affordable costs.

He said money is no more a problem to implement power and energy projects but the problem remains in adequate manpower.

The government is trying to introduce modern technology and paper-less office to ensure good governance, he said.

The government will ensure cent per cent electricity access within the ongoing Mujib year, said Mr Hamid.

Former governor said Bangabandhu was keen to electrification of the war-wracked country and instructed for rural electrification then.

Unfortunately, he could not see the development during his life term.

President of the Forum for Energy Reporters Bangladesh, or FERB, Arun Karmakar chaired the event, while FERB Secretary General Shamim Ahmed moderated the virtual seminar.

BIPPA President Imran Karim, energy expert Saleque Sufi, FERB senior members Shahnaj Parvin, M Azizur Rahman, Shahed Siddique and Muzaherul Islam Rumen also spoke on the occasion.

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