Announcement of restructuring of power companies

Muhammad Fawzul Kabir Khan, Advisor to the Interim Government Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges and Ministry of Railways said, we want to restructure the power companies. I want to break the structure of irregularities in the power sector. A committee will be formed to investigate the allegations of irregularities in this sector. It should be remembered that this is a new Bangladesh. Everyone has equal opportunities here. As there are crises, there are solutions.

He said this during a briefing to mediapersons at the conference room of Rupsa 800 MW Combined Cycle Power Plant located in Khalishpur, Khulna at around 11:30 on Saturday (August 31). Later, the power advisor visited various parts of the power plant.

The advisor said, until now a development story was being read in our country, our per capita income and GDP in Bangladesh are increasing and we are turning from a low-income country into a middle-income country. Now it turns out, it was a mistake.

He said that power plant has been built in Khulna at a cost of around eight thousand crore rupees, which has been added to the national GDP. Even if the GDP increases, the gas-based power plant does not seem to be able to generate electricity immediately. We knew long ago that the gas reserve in Bangladesh will decrease, it will not be possible to supply gas to the power plant from here. Eight thousand crore rupees were spent on setting up power plants, but people are not getting any benefit from it—that is the fallacy of development.

Muhammad Fawzul Kabir Khan said, we will honor the past projects. A plant cannot be shut down while it is in operation, as there are international agreements. A four-member committee is being formed under the leadership of Justice Moinul Islam to investigate the allegations of irregularities. However, it has not yet been gazetted. I spoke to Justice Moinul Islam about this, he agreed. It will be an independent committee. Technical, financial, good contract understanding, legal understanding to assist that committee—they will assist. Everyone will cooperate with the committee by providing real information. They will see them. We didn't do it ourselves, because if we did it ourselves, we might corrupt again. Let it go and catch him. For this, we have not placed any person from the power department or the energy department there (in the committee). All are outsiders.

He said, if I cancel any contract, then it will go to court. Then more problems will arise. That committee will see everything. If the committee recommends to cancel the contract, then we will see, what is the correct procedure for canceling the contract? I will decide after that. We cannot tell them, you do this and that. Because I made an independent committee.

The advisor also said that development should be measured by what has improved people's lives. Near this power plant in Khulna, there is only gas in Bhola, which is insufficient. 140 mmcf of gas is required here but only 100 mmcf of gas is available in Bhola. Even if a new pipeline takes three years to bring this gas to Khulna, it will not be enough. However, how to make the power plant partially functional is under consideration.

In the meeting, the senior secretary of the electricity department. Habibur Rahman, Secretary of Energy and Mineral Resources Department. Nurul Alam, Chairman (Acting) of Bangladesh Power Development Board. Rezaul Karim, Deputy Commissioner (Acting) of Khulna. Yusup Ali along with officials of power and energy sector were present.

At noon on this day, Advisor Muhammad Fawzul Kabir Khan exchanged views with public representatives, Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges and Ministry of Railways, local civil society, student coordinators and representatives in the Khulna Deputy Commissioner's conference room.

At this time, the adviser said, the bridge and metro rail were completely destroyed. People expect change. Everyone should be careful. Now they are burning the office, but then our house will be attacked. So the government officials who have not changed, I call upon them to change and work for the development of the country.

Questioning what is the profit in this, he said, those who have committed corruption, it is IGP Benazir who has committed corruption. where is he now Then where is Matiur now? Now a changed situation. This is the only opportunity for change after independence. I want to help you in that change. I want to change that with your help.

During this time the advisor listens to the suggestions and complaints of the participants attentively and assures the solution. Khulna Divisional Commissioner Md. welcomed the meeting. Helal Mahmud Sharif.