Interim government’s Adviser for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Dr Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan has said that the boards of all state-owned companies under his ministry will be restructured and secretaries will be removed from those boards.

“It is a conflict of interest if the secretary of the ministry becomes the chairman of a board of directors of a company, and it is immoral,” he told reporters after a meeting with officials of Petrobangla, Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) and Geological Survey of Bangladesh (GSB) at the Petrobangla auditorium on Wednesday.

Instead, representatives of students will be included in the boards of the companies, he said.

Responding to a question on corruption through signing of deals, he said that these cases involve legal matters and it may require some time to take action.

“But if necessary, steps will be taken to review the terms of the existing contract by forming a committee consisting of former judges,” he added.

Issuing a stern warning to the officials and employees of the entities under power and energy ministry against any sort of corruption and irregularities, he said, “You have to understand people's expectations with the change of the regime.”

The adviser said if they fail to understand the “language of the street,” they should consider what would happen. “You have to understand why people took to the streets, why they gave blood.”

He also urged everyone to understand the philosophy behind the current government and act accordingly.

Responding to another question, Fouzul Kabir instructed the officials to take immediate actions to sever illegal gas and electricity connections and report to him on a regular basis.

Energy and Mineral Resources Division Secretary Md. Nurul Alam, Petrobangla Chairman Janendra Nath Sarkar, BPC Chairman Md. Amin Ul Ahsan and senior officials of various departments were present in the meeting.