Officials of the Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry and different organisations under it, faced the wrath of the parliamentary watchdog yesterday for their “meaningless and excessive overseas tours” that hamper the government’s execution of its commitment to the people in terms of power and energy.
First-time Awami League lawmaker Shibli Sadique from Dinajpur 6 took the lead in questioning the justification of the tours taken by officials of the ministry, the Power Development Board, Petrobangla and other organisations.
Quoting some newspaper reports, he said one official had 30 overseas tours in a year while a maximum of four was permitted by the government manual.
Tajul Islam, chairman of the 10-member parliamentary standing committee of the ministry, supported Shibli’s stance and warned that the officials must stop taking such “useless” overseas tours in the future.
“Our recommendation is that the trips must be result-oriented. In the future, we will examine the justification of all overseas tours, if necessary,” Tajul told the Dhaka Tribune following the meeting at the parliament building.
The ministry officials did not contest the watchdog’s assertion. Shibli told the Dhaka Tribune that he raised the issue as the frequent foreign visits of the officials hampered the execution of the government’s plan to implement development projects as promised in its election pledges.
“An officer goes on tour 30 times a year. Is it fair? This must stop,” he said.
He said the Power Development Board had been running a 60-MW power plant in Bheramara, spending Tk32 on electricity (per unit cost) against the Tk16-18 in other power stations.
“It expired much earlier. Why should it still be operational?” the lawmaker asked. Shibli said the Tongi power station fails at least 70 times a year. “What else can we expect from this plant?” he said.
Tajul said his committee had expressed concerns that officials and employees of PDB and Titas gas awarded illegal connections in exchange for extra sums of money while the genuine customers were deprived of their rights.