United News of Bangladesh

Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan on Thursday said corruption in the energy sector often occurred within a framework of supportive laws and flawed policies. While the interim government had worked to reduce corruption and repaid most of the country USD 3.2 billion energy debt, he said it lacked sufficient time to undertake deeper reforms. Speaking at a dialogue, the Adviser acknowledged dissatisfaction with anti-corruption efforts, highlighting that vested interests benefit from corruption and that focus should shift from investigating past misdeeds to addressing present-day corruption. The Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) hosted the dialogue at the CIRDAP (Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific) auditorium. Zillur warned that Bangladesh is facing a security crisis which may deepen if elections are not held on time. He noted that the issues of security, energy, and corruption are interlinked and highlighted the key questions for debate, including the risks posed by great power rivalries, the urgent need for border protection, the modernisation of defence and cybersecurity, the formulation of a national security policy, and the constitutional and legal reforms necessary to combat corruption. Questions were also raised on strengthening the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), implementing a realistic anti-corruption strategy, addressing budget loopholes that legalise illicit wealth, ensuring uninterrupted electricity, reducing reliance on energy imports, expanding renewable energy, and increasing transparency in major projects such as the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant. Moyeen Khan outlined five key dimensions of security: state, economy, politics, diplomacy, and society. He stressed that people’s security must come first, encompassing environmental safety, technological challenges, food security, media literacy, and energy. He argued that diversity of thought must be protected and that security should not be viewed merely as protecting those in power. Badiul Alam emphasized political stability as a cornerstone of national security, underscoring the need for free and fair elections. He recounted discussions with citizens who admired the parliament building’s beauty but lamented the corruption of those in power. He argued that corruption has undermined recent elections, warning that without reforming politics and curbing money’s influence, democratic processes cannot function properly. Muniruzzaman argued that the opportunity to enact meaningful reforms following the recent uprising has already been missed. He highlighted gaps in Bangladesh’s national security, including the lack of a comprehensive national security policy, unresolved transboundary water disputes, rising sea levels threatening much of the country, and the absence of policies to address these issues. Draft law approved to intensify EC’s authority to punish negligence in election duty

Industries will get an additional gas supply of 250 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) from the existing system. Energy Adviser Dr. Fouzul Kabir Khan announced this after a meeting with the leaders of the business sector at his office in the Power and Energy Ministry on Wednesday. He said 150 mmcfd gas will be curtailed from the power sector while 100 mmcfd will be added from the import of four extra LNG cargoes. The power sector is currently getting 1200 mmcfd gas from Petrobangla. He admitted that this step will lead to a decline in power generation. “But we will run more liquid fuel-based power plants to increase the power generation,” he told reporters after the meeting. He also noted that the government will take measures to increase the gas supply through enhancement of local production and import. “We’ll import four more LNG cargoes in addition to the existing annual plan,” he said. Currently, Petrobangla supplies a total of about 2740 mmcfd of gas through production from local fields and imported LNG. Push-ins must follow formal channels: Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Of this, about 1,700 mmcfd gas comes from local fields and the remaining 1000 mmcfd comes from imported LNG. The adviser said that the meeting took a number of decisions including that Titas Gas and industrial investors’ leaders will set up a joint taskforce to oversee and check the illegal use of gas by industries. Besides, the government and industry leaders will identify the industrial areas to increase the gas supply. He said the government has been drilling 100 wells which will add about 500 mmcfd gas in the next two years. Former FBCCI president AK Azad led the business leaders’ delegation.

Electricity demand is expected to reach 15,700 MW during the holy Ramadan set to begin in March, Energy Adviser Dr. Fouzul Kabir Khan has said.  "We are making all-out efforts to ensure Ramadan remains fully free from load shedding. There might be disruptions due to other reasons but not due to a supply shortfall," he said while addressing a press briefing at Biduyt Bhaban in the city on Wednesday. The briefing followed a preparatory meeting with top officials of power and gas sector utilities ahead of  summer.  Responding to a question, he clarified that the government has no immediate plans to raise power or gas tariffs. The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) is considering a gas price hike for industrial consumers who wish to consume additional gas, said the adviser.  Election schedule depends on July Charter: CA’s Press Secretary He said after Ramadan, electricity demand may rise to 18,000 MW during the summer when demand of power for irrigation also increases. During this period, there might be a load shedding of 700 MW to 1,400 MW daily, he added.  "However, our efforts will focus on managing the cooling load, which primarily comes from the use of air conditioners," he said  urging consumers to set their ACs above 25 degrees Celsius. He added that the AC load is approximately 6,000 MW, which can be reduced with consumers’ cooperation.  The adviser said he had held meetings with the Finance Adviser, Finance Ministry officials, the Bangladesh Bank Governor, and CEOs of various public and private banks who assured full support in providing adequate funding to meet the demands of the power and gas sectors.  Power Secretary and the Chairman of the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) were also present. "This Ramadan, gas supply will be increased to 1,200 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) from the current 900 MMCFD to enhance power generation from gas-fired plants,” he said. He said the government will import four LNG cargoes to meet the additional gas demand for power generation. Fouzul Kabir said that gas supply will be maintained at 1,100 MMCFD during the summer to meet the requirements of gas-fired power plants from April to September. "Our strategy prioritizes increasing gas-based power generation," he added.  Reform Commission recommends completing BCS exam within one year He also said load shedding will be balanced between rural and urban areas. "We assure you that there will be no discrimination in load shedding between rural and urban areas," he said.  The adviser highlighted that the government's primary focus is on food production, fertilizer supply, and ensuring uninterrupted power and gas supply. Regarding shop closure timings, he said there is currently no strict embargo on closing shops by 8 pm but the situation will be closely monitored, and decisions will be made based on evolving circumstances.  He also mentioned that the government is considering clearing the dues of the BPDB by paying private power producers, though it may not be possible to clear all dues in one go. 

The interim government will not increase power tariffs despite a recommendation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), said Power and Energy Adviser Dr. Fouzul Kabir Khan on Thursday. "We will not raise power tariff despite IMF’s suggestion," Dr. Fouzul told reporters after a meeting with an IMF delegation at the Finance Ministry. The delegation, led by IMF Mission Chief to Bangladesh Chris Papageorgiou, held a meeting as part of the IMF’s third review under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF), Extended Fund Facility (EFF), and Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF). Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed and Dr. Fouzul were present during the discussions. Govt prioritises timely textbook distribution: Education Adviser The energy adviser explained that while the IMF recommended a tariff hike to ease the subsidy burden in the power sector, the government emphasized the adverse effects such a move would have on citizens already grappling with high inflation. The government is focusing on reducing subsidies by cutting production costs in the energy sector, the adviser said. Old, polluting buses in Dhaka to be scrapped to combat air pollution: Rizwana He also highlighted several reforms aimed at improving efficiency and transparency in the power sector. The government has repealed the Speedy Increase of Power and Energy Supply (Special Provision) Act, 2010, and removed bureaucrats from the boards of directors in various power companies, he noted.

Citing his recent experience in dealing with the country’s bureaucracy, Energy Adviser Dr  Fouzul Kabir Khan said he feels like fighting with his own shadow. "I am fighting with my own shadow, even though I was part of this bureaucracy," he said while addressing a seminar titled ‘Predictable Energy Pricing and Supply Stability’ at the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) in the city on Saturday. Fouzul Kabir mentioned that state-owned Petrobangla has sought clearance from the Planning Ministry to waive the mandatory feasibility study provision for implementing drilling projects at different onshore gas fields. "This feasibility study needs to be conducted by a third party, which requires one year for gathering necessary data about a field. We didn’t want to bypass the feasibility study, but all the data is available with Petrobangla, and it should be handled within the organization itself," he said. Fouzul Kabir also pointed out that if a year is needed for the feasibility study, how can the job be completed quickly? "This is a time-buying tactic, and we should raise our voices against such a time-consuming provision."  Looking forward to next year with hopes for a better Bangladesh: Foreign Secretary The DCCI organised the seminar with its president Ashraf Ahmed in the chair. Eminent energy expert Prof Dr M Tamim made a presentation on the topic. Former BUET Prof Dr Ijaz Ahmed, Dhaka University Prof Badrul Imam, head of corporate affairs at Bangladesh Steel and Re-rolling Mills (BSRM) Saumitra Kumar Mussuddi, and president of the Bangladesh Solar and Renewable Energy Association Eng Nurul Aktar also addressed the seminar. Reiterating his plans, Dr Fouzul Kabir said that the government would no longer allow independent power producer (IPP) plants in the private sector with a 100 percent off-take guarantee by the government. "The government will provide a maximum of 10-20 percent guarantee to purchase electricity from these plants. Instead, the government will encourage the private sector to set up merchant power plants, where they can choose their own buyers for electricity," he noted. Fouzul Kabir said that investors in merchant power plants would be allowed to use the transmission and distribution facilities to sell their electricity to their buyers.  "The IPP model in power generation is outdated, and no country is following this model anymore," he added. Dr Khan also mentioned that the government will float an open tender next week for setting up 40 solar power plants in the private sector. The advertisement for the tender will be released gradually. Judicial efficiency a moral imperative, not just administrative goal: CJ "From now on, all doors will be open at the power and energy ministry, and you businessmen will not need to come to the ministry for any persuasion... No personal relationships will be needed to secure a contract. Only competitive offers will determine the outcome," he said. Dr Tamim said that many power plants had agreements with the previous government to purchase electricity at 17-18 cents per kilowatt hour in solar power. He suggested renegotiating these deals. Daytime electricity consumption should be met with solar power, and there must be supply and demand-side management, while markets should not be allowed to remain open beyond certain hours.