Corruption, wrong policy blamed for power crisis

They strongly criticised the alliance government and the state minister for power for failing to add 'a single megawatt' electricity to the national grid during the last four and a half years.

To resolve the power crisis, the speakers suggested formulating a long-term master plan, setting up small power plants in all upazilas and giving the charge of the ministry of power to experts.

They also called for setting up power plants in the western region to reduce system loss during transmission, reducing dependency on foreign consultants and encouraging the local entrepreneurs to invest in power plants.

The Centre for Studies in Social Transformation organised the dialogue titled 'Demand, generation and distribution of electricity in Bangladesh' at the National Press Club in the city, with its President Prof Serajul Islam Chowdhury in the chair.

The speakers called for identifying the vested quarters who are amassing wealth through corruption and mismanagement in the power sector.

Prof Serajul Islam said acute shortage of electricity has severely hampered the growth in industrial sector and deprived the people of education, leading to the rise in militancy, terrorism and crimes in the country.

Nuruddin Mahmud Kamal, former chairman of Power Development Board (PDB), presented a keynote paper titled 'The power system of Bangladesh is in crossfire'.

The government's inability to take proper decision and feuds between the minister and bureaucrats over power generation have brought the power sector to the verge of ruin, he said.

Although the demand for electricity has continued to increase -- 400 megawatt additional electricity a year -- the government did not take any measure to generate more power, he added.

The former PDB chief suggested formulating a proper plan for generation and distribution of electricity with private sector's involvement and strengthening the energy regulatory commission.

He also recommended privatisation of the management of the PDB and DESA to improve the system of generation and distribution of electricity.

Prof Anu Muhammad said that although additional power could not be generated in the last four and a half years, electricity lines have been expanded due to mismanagement, corruption and the vested quarter's intervention.

Besides, a large amount of electricity has been used in unproductive sector, he said.

He also suggested bringing the vested quarters to book to get rid of prevailing crisis.

Former advisor to the caretaker government Amanul Islam Chowdhury, Prof MM Akash, General Secretary of Bangladesh Steel Mills Owners' Association SKM Masud, former president of the Institute of Diploma Engineers' Association Shafiuddin Sarker, Dr Zakir Hossain, Dr Parvin Hasan and former chairman of FBCCI Abdul Haque also spoke.