Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday formed a special cell for the power, energy and mineral resources ministry aiming to scale up country’s power and gas production.
The cell headed by the premier’s adviser HT Imam will monitor the works in the sector and implement the development projects under the ministry in light of the new policy guidelines of the present government.
“We need more energy for development works. You must work fast and sincerely as we do not have much time in our hands to do so,” Hasina, also in-charge of the energy ministry, told a meeting at the ministry.
The meeting decided to withdraw all taxes from import of solar energy accessories to facilitate generation of solar energy.
She also asked the officials concerned to resume power generation at 150-MW Bhola Power Plant soon.
Hasina attended office at the ministry for the first time yesterday after taking the charge of prime minister.
Hasina, also the chief of Awami League, said the previous AL government left the power sector in a good shape in 2001 but since then no initiative was taken to increase power and gas production to meet the country’s growing demand.
The prime minister said she would see what actually had happened in the energy sector in the last seven years to find out the reasons for failure in achieving the sector’s goals.
She said their prime target would be to overcome the existing problems in the sector in no time.
Hasina said corruption remains a major problem and directed the officials to work for people’s welfare staying away from corruption.
She said in recent years many capable officials could not perform their duty properly and were late in making decisions because of fear.
“I want to assure you that during the tenure of our government you will have the liberty to do your jobs freely for the welfare of the country and the people,” Hasina told the ministry officials, adding, “But there must be transparency and accountability.”
She directed the officials to ensure power supply in rural areas in the Boro season.
Hasina said the power generation policy of the previous AL government would be updated with an aim to make Bangladesh a developed and prosperous nation by 2021.
“Like electricity, the gas sector is also in disarray. We have to increase gas production as many industries were forced to shut down because of shortage of gas,” she said.
HT Imam, Energy Secretary Mohammad Mohsin and senior officials, among others, were present.
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