Finance Minister AMA Muhith said despite achieving high power generation, the country still suffers a 3,000-megawatt gap between power supply and demand due to lack of efficiency in transmission and distribution lines.
“Electricity generation has increased, but supply is yet to reach its peak.”
Muhith said problems are related with efficiency and flaws in transmission and distribution lines, which has eventually created a 3,000-megawtt shortage.
Finance Minister was speaking at a pre-budget discussion in Dhaka Saturday which was telecast live on ntv.
Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and ntv jointly organised the event.
He said primary sources of electricity have been diversified while the supply of imported coal is abundant.
“We can buy coal mines in Indonesia or other countries, if needed,” finance minister added.
Muhith criticised Bangladesh Tariff Commission (BTC) and said the body has becomes a “dead institution.”
“They (BTC) should be proactive in making decision and not for our decisions.”
At the programme, the speakers include experts, business leaders and politicians.
Former finance adviser to last caretaker government AB Mirza Azizul Islam said the government should focus on primary fuel for electricity generation as the quick rental project costs much higher.
“As coal is a less expensive way for producing electricity, we should focus on it. But this would have to be local, not imported,” he said.
Business leaders said if infrastructures are not developed, no investors would come to make investment in the country.
“Chittagong could be a business hub. But the capacity of its roads has not been improved. Enlarging Dhaka-Chittagong highway to four lanes remained very slow,” said Mahbubul Alam, president of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI).
He also put stress on ensuring sufficient supply of gas and power to the port city.
Lands should also be made available for investments, said CCCI president.
“Without solving the problems, no private investors would engage themselves in investments for setting up industries.”
For attracting investments, he urged the government to allocate funds for setting up gas compressor in Chittagong and establishing Special Economic Zones at Anwara and Mirsarai of Chittagong.
GPH Group director Almas Shimul said the Dhaka-Chittagong four-lane has been an issue for last eight years, but the government is yet to make any significant headway to the project.
Former minister and adviser to the BNP chairperson M Osman Faruk said the cost of infrastructure is going up as the projects are not being implemented within the scheduled times.
He criticised the government’s policy to adopt quick rental power.
Osman Faruk also said the people are not getting electricity to the level as the government claims to generate.
The former minister urged the government to import power from neighbouring countries like Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan in addition to India.
Economist Shawkat Ali who joined the programme from New York emphasised the need to develop infrastructures in Benapole Land Port as “it is playing a key role in the trade of the country.
