Energy, Energy and Mineral Resources Advisor Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan said that during the Sheikh Hasina regime, unplanned development projects in the electricity and energy sector were implemented at higher costs.

In an exclusive interview with UNB this week, Fouzul said unplanned development projects that lacked value for money during former prime minister Hasina’s tenure were often more costly than reasonable ones.

He said that during the previous government period, there were major irregularities and corruption in the energy and energy sectors, which led to huge financial losses.

The consultant, who also heads the ministry of roads, transport and bridges, criticized the approval of many unnecessary private power plants aimed at benefiting certain groups through nepotism, leading to waste of public funds.

Painting a picture of Hasina government’s irregularities and corruption, he said the government’s practice of purchasing electricity at inflated prices had worsened the current situation, putting financial pressure on power companies and hindering the ability to pay suppliers in dollars for gas imports. .

He acknowledged the difficulties of maintaining stable electricity tariffs, which have been raised repeatedly due to these difficulties, ultimately harming consumers and leading to further waste of national resources.

He said that in order to address issues of corruption and irregularities, the government had decided to set up an independent investigative body led by a judge to identify culprits and take action on the recommendations of the committee, warning that no one would be spared.

The consultant emphasized efforts to find a solution to the ongoing energy crisis, saying that existing irregularities have been eliminated and they have restructured energy companies.

He emphasized that the development of the Matarbari power plant project is interconnected with deep-sea ports, economic zones, railways and road projects and the importance of implementing these additional projects to truly benefit from the power plant.

Measures taken after taking office

Thereupon, Fouzul talked about the suspension of a special law from 2010, the cancellation of a controversial article in the BERC Law, the reduction of fuel prices and the dismissal of the heads of companies affiliated with ministries.

He touched upon the creation of special rules to prevent corruption in transfers and recruitment in the energy sector.

load shedding

The consultant said that electricity connections were provided beyond the country’s capacity and this led to inevitable outages.

He assured that technical problems such as those at the Barapukuria power plant were quickly resolved and steps were taken to increase gas import capacity.

Irregularities and corruption in the energy sector

Fouzul approved a zero-tolerance policy and encouraged public cooperation in reporting maladministration.

He reiterated his commitment to open competition in project tenders, ensuring that no particular person or group is privileged.

Attempts against illegal gas connections

Fouzul expressed plans to cut off all unauthorized connections and hinted that investigations would uncover corrupt officials involved.

He also said that no new gas connections will be made, especially in areas already served by gas lines.

Irregularities in the energy sector

The consultant acknowledged the existing irregularities in the sector, stating that legal complexities may require time but measures are being taken to address them. It is planned to review the contracts with the help of a committee to be formed by a former judge.

He reiterated the government’s intention to restructure energy companies and eliminate the existing framework of irregularities.

The consultant emphasized the importance of equal opportunities for everyone in Bangladesh and said that despite the ongoing challenges, solutions are also being sought.

Along with attempts to intensify gas exploration in the midst of an urgent energy crisis, it has announced plans to drill 50 wells by 2025 with significant collaborations of various companies.

He predicted that the gas shortage could be alleviated through these efforts and committed himself to maintaining strict timelines and budgets for all projects moving forward.