Bangladesh News

The opposition lawmakers in parliament yesterday blasted the government for acute electricity crisis across the country and said the people will suffer even more in the Ramadan due to the worsening power situation.
State Minister for Power Anwarul Kabir Talukdar faced a volley of questions on power crisis during the question-answer session yesterday.

Acknowledging the irregularities in the sector, he said, “Hopefully, there will be no crisis in the power sector after 2020.”

Replying to a query from ruling BNP lawmaker Halima Newaz Arly, the state minister said the power situation will begin to improve from the year 2009.

He said a primary investigation into the installation of Tongi Power Plant has detected a number of irregularities. The matter has already been sent to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for settlement.

“We are planning a technical audit to review the activities regarding the plant set-up,” he observed.

Earlier Rahmat Ali, Awami League (AL) lawmaker from Gazipur, said his constituency suffers load shedding for up to 14 hours a day. In reply, the state minister said he will look into the complaint.

When AL lawmaker Shahjahan Khan asked him about the killings in Kansat and Narsingdi, Anwarul Kabir said, “I believe the home ministry will take necessary steps to that end.”

“Some 20 power plants have ceased functioning because of poor maintenance,” Col (retired) Farukh Khan told the House.

The minister said that the power ministry is already working towards having a few damaged units repaired and the rest of the plants too will be overhauled shortly.

“About five percent people in this sector are involved in corruption,” Anwarul said when ruling party member SA Sultan Titu asked him about the state of corruption.

Besides, ruling BNP lawmakers Shah Abu Zafar, Helen Zerin Khan, and Syed Mehedi Ahmed Rumi drew the state minister’s attention to shortfall in power supplies to their areas.