Engineer Md Mahbubur Rahman has been reappointed Chairman of Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) on a contract basis for one year. He took over the charge after his reappointment with effect from September 1, said a BPDB release. Mahbubur Rahman was born in Shariatpur district on  September 1, 1963. He obtained B.Sc. Engineering (Civil) degree from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) in 1986. Also read: Chinese-Bangladeshi consortium, BPDB to sign deal for Mongla wind power plant tomorrow He did his M.Sc. Engineering (Hydro-Power) degree from the Norwegian University of Engineering & Technology, Norway in 1995 with a full scholarship from the Norwegian government. He later obtained an MBA degree from Bangladesh. Besides, he also completed various professional courses from Oxford University of the United Kingdom, Kochi University of Japan and Melbourne Institute of Technology of Australia. Mahbubur Rahman started his career with the BPDB in 1986 as an Assistant Engineer in the organisation’s Siddhirganj Power Station. Also read: Steps to be taken to normalize power supply to flood-hit areas as soon as situation improves: BPDB Later he served as Sub-Divisional Engineer and Executive Engineer at Siddhirganj 210 MW Thermal Power Station construction project, as Director IPP Cell-1, Director IPP Cell-3, Chief Engineer (Private Generation), Member (Distribution) and Member (Company Affairs) of the BPDB.

Engineer Md Mahbubur Rahman has been appointed as new chairman of the Bangladesh Power Development Board. He joined the new post on Monday. He served as Member (Company Affairs) of the organisation before being elevated to this position. He is the 38th chairman of the BPDB, the state-owned principal organisation in the power sector. According to the BPDB release, Engr. Md Mahbubur Rahman was born in Shariatpur district on 1 September, 1963. He obtained B.Sc. Engineering (Civil) degree from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) in 1986. He did his M.Sc. Engineering (Hydro-Power) degree from the Norwegian University of Engineering & Technology, Norway in 1995 with a full scholarship from the Norwegian government. Also read: Deal period with rental, quick rental power plant owners can’t be extended: BPDB Chairman Mahbub  later obtained an MBA degree from Bangladesh. Besides, he also completed various professional courses from Oxford University of the United Kingdom, Kochi University of Japan and Melbourne Institute of Technology of Australia. He joined Siddhirganj Power Station of Bangladesh Power Development Board on September 1, 1986 as an Assistant Engineer. Later he worked as Sub-Divisional Engineer and Executive Engineer at Siddhirganj 210 MW Thermal Power Station Construction Project, as Director IPP Cell-1, Director IPP Cell-3 and as Chief Engineer Private Generation. Later he also served as Member (Distribution) of BPDB. Also read: BPDB’s extra purchase order of petroleum puts BPC in trouble

Although the government has allowed rental and quick rental power plants on short-term basis, now their owners are pursuing for long term agreement which cannot be acceptable in any case, said Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) Chairman Belayet Hossain.   Belayet Hossain made the remarks while speaking at a webinar titled: “Upcoming National Budget FY 2021-22: Expectation of Power Producers” on Saturday.  He observed that despite huge criticism from the mass people, the government allowed these high cost rental and quick rental power plants as remedy to the power crisis of that times.  “But these high cost power plants cannot operate beyond their short-term agreement period”, he added. Forum for Energy Reporters Bangladesh (FERB) organised the online seminar with its chairman Arun Karmaker which was also addressed by State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid, Power Secretary Habibur Rahman, Power Cell director general Mohammad Hossain, and President of Bangladesh Independent Power Producers Assertion (BIPPA) Imran Karim. BIPPA Vice President Mozammel Hossain made a presentation on the topic while FERB executive director Shamim Jahangir conducted the webinar. The BPDB Chairman noted that still the government has to purchase electricity at a much higher rate from the private power producers and sell it to the consumers at lower rate that incurs a huge financial loss to the BPDB.  This creates huge gap of Tk 1.60 per units between the BPDB’s average generation cost and electricity supply to the consumers, he noted adding that the government had to provide Tk 7000-8000 crore in the current fiscal as subsidy to fill the gap.  “This fiscal year, this gap will go up and the government has to provide increased subsidy”, he said adding that there is indication that allocation for power sector may be decreased in the upcoming national as the government’s focus is shifting to health sector. State Minister Nasrul Hamid said the BPDB has to be more efficient in power generation by retiring the inefficient power plant without showing many excuse.   He, however, agreed different demands of the private power producers like lowering the income tax, reducing import duty on furnace oil, waiving advance income tax and removing complexities in stamp duty.  Power Secretary Habibur Rahman assured the private power producers to palce their demands to the National Board of Revenue.  BIPPA president Imran Karim said the private power producers have to face difficult times due to the increased import duty of furnace oil to 34 percent and also for obligation on paying advance income tax. Mohammad Hossain said although the country’s power generation capacity reached over 24,000 MW, still industries do not trust that the government can supply quality power.  “That’s why 3000 MW power is being generated by the captive power producers in the industrial sector”, he added. Mozammel Hossain said private power producers are facing delay in getting their payments against the sale of electricity to the government.  He also alleged that private power producers are not getting environmental clearance certificates before commissioning of their power plants.