BoI chief blames media for his failure

"A group of people always hold a negative attitude towards the coal policy and the media constantly gives them a good space conveying the negative feelings," the energy adviser said while addressing a press conference organised by the Forum for Energy Reporters Bangladesh (FERB) at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity.

"Due to this, people have become confused to accept the policy and the government has been in a dilemma to approve it. And I cannot also convince the government," Rahman, also the chairman of the Board of Investment (BoI), said.

Besides, the government also does not want to face any debate approving the coal policy just before the end of its five-year tenure, he noted.

The energy adviser also observed that a decision about the coal policy should be made within one month after the next government comes to power, adding that it should also take initiatives to develop the coalmines.

Rahman also suggested the new government should take steps for producing power by using coal, forewarning that if the power sector does not switch from using gas for its production, Bangladesh will face a severe crisis in natural gas only after 20 to 30 years.

While India and China produces 60 and 70 percent power of the total requirement from coal, Bangladesh produces 90 percent power from gas, he added.

Rahman also presented his successes and failures during his 14-month tenure as the adviser to the energy ministry, saying that his great achievement was to free the energy ministry from corruption.

When asked about his failure, he said except the coal policy, he succeeded in almost all other areas such as natural gas, CNG conversion, petroleum sector and alternative energy sector.

FERB President Mollah Amzad was present at the press meet among others.