Corruption, plundering, suicidal deals behind energy crisis: BNP

The BNP on Saturday blamed the government's "pervasive corruption, suicidal deals and imprudent plans" for the current crisis in the power and energy sector.

At a press conference at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office, party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also presented a 12-point step, including scrapping all black laws and rules relating to the power and energy sector, cancelling the deals on quick rental power plants and exploring gas and petroleum and other minerals from the Bay of Bengal, to be taken by their party if it returns to power, reports UNB.

"The common people have to now pay the prices for the unbridled corruption and rampant plundering by the government. Loadshedding for two-three hours in the city and five-six hours in the rural areas has made public life miserable,” he said.

When the soaring prices of all essential items hit people very hard, Fakhrul said the loadshedding is just rubbing salt into their wounds. ”People have got bewildered as their backs are extremely pushed against the wall.”

Under the current circumstances of the country, he called upon the government to step down shouldering the responsibility for its failure to deliver on all fronts and tackle the power and fuel crisis and price hike of the commodities.

Otherwise, he warned that their party will wage a fierce movement together with people to force the government to quit.

Capacity charges unethical

Fakhrul said 19 rental and quick rental power plants are still in operation unnecessarily though those were supposed to be shut down after 2/3 years of operation.

He said several rental power plants are getting huge sums of money in capacity charges even though they are not producing any power.

“The government has to pay Tk 90,000 crores so far to the power plants in capacity charges without any power production. Capacity charges are irrational, unethical and against the public interest. It’s also a crime,” the BNP leader observed.

He said only 43% of the total power plants in the country are now being used. “The remaining 57% idle power plants are getting money as rent without power generation.”

Fakhrul said more new power plants are getting ready for power generation amid additional generating capacity that will only increase the cost for idle power plants further.

He alleged that the current government has deliberately kept about 60 percent idle power plants and paying huge money in capacity charges as it has no accountability to people. "This money is public money. The power sector is going bankrupt by paying the capacity charges.”

Importing costly power from India irrational

Fakhrul said the capacity charges are being paid to import electricity from India. “Currently, 1,160 MW of electricity is imported from India. For this, about Tk 5,800 crores were paid in capacity charges in the last three financial years.”

He said the Indian Adani Group is expected to export 1,496 MW of electricity to Bangladesh. “Importing coal-based electricity from India at a time when Bangladesh has about 60 percent overcapacity is completely unreasonable.”

The BNP leader said around 40% of this electricity import goes to pay capacity charges. “Bangladesh will have to pay the Adani Group more than Tk 1,00,000 crore in capacity charges over the 25 years, which is enough to build three Padma Bridges, nine Karnaphuli Tunnels or two Metrorails.”

He said the Adani group has been given a total rent of 53, 885 crores in three years. “The total cost of the construction of Padma Bridge, including corruption, is 30,293 crores.”

Fakhrul accused the government of imposing a huge burden on people unfairly by generating electricity through IPP without increasing gas exploration capacity.

“The government has not used the potential of off-shore gas exploration in the last ten years delibartely,” he alleged.

Replying to a question, Fakhrul said their party, if returns to power, will solve the power and energy crisis. “We will repeal all black laws, including the Quick Enhancement of Electricity and Energy Supply (Special Provision) Act and all contracts with quick rental companies. Construction of power plants and other works will be done through international tenders based on transparent competition.”

He said their party will also take steps to ensure punishment of those involved in corruption and irregularities in the power and energy sector.

Besides, the BNP leader said medium and long-term plans will be adopted to set up power plants as per the demand.

“Necessary power transmission and distribution lines in line with power production demand will be installed urgently,” he observed.

Fakhrul said they will also take proper steps to explore local gas and minerals through Bapxe and other government institutions.

BNP Standing Committee member Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku and Chairperson’s Advisory Council member Ismail Zabihullah were present at the press conference.