PM urges austerity in using electricity

The Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday renewed her call to the people to be more economical in using electricity to repay the best of the government’s huge subsidy to power generation.

She simultaneously urged them to keep up the country’s existing pace of development with the long-term vision formulated by the government.

“Let not allow anyone to come to power again who will tie  Bangladesh up in the chains of slavery,” she said.

The premier made this call while inaugurating five power plants through a videoconferencing from her official  Ganabhaban residence here this morning.

Addressing the function as the chief guest, Sheikh Hasina said, “The government has been providing a huge subsidy to power generation and that’s why you (people) are getting electricity at an affordable price . . . If you don’t maintain austerity  in  using electricity, we can’t continue this subsidy anymore.”

She said both the solvency and purchasing power of people in rural areas have increased as they can now afford TV, refrigerator, and in many cases AC also. “Their capacity has raised gradually and it has grown even more … it’s now our desire that there will be no disparity and people will get  every facility.”

In this connection, she said the people will have to develop the habit of austerity as there is no disgrace if they exercise the practice of putting off the switch with their own hands after using electricity.

The Prime Minister also highlighted her government’s long-term plans such as Perspective Plan, Vision-2041, and Delta Plan-2100 to turn Bangladesh into a developed country and hoped that generation to generation will take the country forward with this pace of uplift following the plans.

“Bangladesh is an independent country and it’ll continue its progress keeping the head high with esteem. So you (people) let not allow anyone again to enchain you in slavery,” she said.

Prime Minister’s Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Affairs Adviser Dr.Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, Bir Bikram and State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid also spoke in the ceremony at Power Division, while Power Division’s Secretary Md. Habibur Rahman highlighted the overall development of power sectors under the Awami League government.

Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus conducted the ceremony at Ganabhaban.

A documentary on the newly-built five power plants was screened at the ceremony.

The five power plants are 400-MW Combined Cycle Power Plant Bibiyana-3 in Habiganj, up-gradation of 150-MW Power Plant to 225-MW Combined Cycle Power Plant in Sylhet, 100-MW Power Plant Unit-2 at Zulda in Chattogram, 104-MW Power Plant at Meghnaghat in Narayanganj and 100-MW Power Plant at Madhumoti in Bagerhat.

The Premier also unveiled the cover of a publication titled “100” on the occasion of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Talking about the huge production of power in Bangladesh, the Prime Minister said the transmission lines have to be set up alongside increasing the production to meet the demand. “So, we’re constructing the transmission lines as well.” She said the government’s main aim is to provide electricity extensively to rural areas so the scope of employment generation increases.

PM opens five power plants with 779-MW capacity

According to the ministry of power, the government has successfully installed 119 power plants with a capacity of 20,293-MW electricity production after assuming office in 2009.

It said the government, under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, had a target to generate 24,000-MW electricity by 2021, but the target has exceeded before the stipulated time.

Talking to BSS, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said the electricity generation capacity reached 25,235-MW so far (including captive power) which was 4,942-MW in 2009.

“We have brought around 99.5 percent of the population under electricity facilities due to the prudent leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” he said.

Nasrul said the Awami League-led government has achieved tremendous successes in the power sector during its last 12 years and has given top priority to the development of the sector considering its importance in the overall enhancement of the country.

“With sincere and relentless efforts by the government, the per-capita electricity generation reached 560 kWh, which was only 220 kWh in 2009. And the system loss was brought down to 8.49 percent from 14.33 percent,” he added.