Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser Dr. Faozul Kabir Khan said, politicians are eager to come to power; we also want to return to our profession. We do not have much time in hand.
He made these comments at a seminar titled ‘Prosperous Bangladesh through Reforms and Sustainable Development’ organized by the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) at the Sonargaon Hotel in the capital on Saturday (November 2).
The energy adviser said, expectations are sky-high for us, people think we have a magic wand in our hands, we can change everything. We have taken responsibility in difficult circumstances, there is no money in the treasury and there are debts to various institutions.
He said, what is the difference between this government and other governments, to become a government you have to vote, it takes money, muscle power, there are various issues. Therefore, the government is responsible to vested interests. And we have taken responsibility and are not responsible to vested interests. We are responsible for the thousands of people who died and were injured in the anti-discrimination movement. We are working with their concerns in mind.
He also said that the government is a kind of deposit. We have to keep in mind the people's concerns when we spend their money. Whenever we take up a project, we go to the people and take their opinions. We are canceling the home-going project; we are taking up projects according to the people's wishes. Efforts are being made to reduce corruption as much as possible. And the procurement will be done through competition.
Dr. Faozul Kabir Khan said that the work of reform has started. People objected to the unbridled increase in the prices of electricity and gas. The previous government changed the BERC Act and increased the prices through executive orders. We will not go that way. BERC will decide on the prices. The special provision (Immunity Act) of 2010 has been repealed. Now the tender will be through open competition.
Stating that institutional reforms have started, he said that to become the head of Metrorail, he must be a former secretary. We said that he will not be needed. He must have experience in operating Metrorail in the country and abroad. A professor has been made the chairman of the PGCB board.
The energy adviser said that LNG worth Tk. 5,000 to Tk. 6,000 crore has to be imported every year. This will continue to increase if the domestic gas reserves do not increase. Initiatives have been taken to dig more wells to increase the gas reserves.
Addressing journalists, he said, "I am receiving many reports of corruption and irregularities every day. If I only focus on these, it will be difficult to do other work. Along with corruption and irregularities, I want a directional report so that it is easier for us to take decisions."
Bangladesh Railway Director General Sardar Shahadat Ali said, "It can be said that 99 percent of projects have been imposed from above, there was no opportunity for judgment and analysis. Due to which people's expectations have not been fulfilled and returns are not coming."
The key-note paper was presented by Dr. AKM Atiqur Rahman, Director of the Economic Research Platform. He said that the power sector has developed considerably, but there are questions about its quality. A survey of the quality of infrastructure development (2019) showed that Bangladesh is ranked 105th. The primary energy sector has not received the importance it deserves in development; power plants are idle due to lack of fuel, which is why load shedding is happening in rural areas.
Professor Dr. Md. Shamsul Alam, Civil Engineering Department, BUET, said, the philosophy of flyovers is a philosophy of the sixties. Many of those who did it without knowing it are demolishing it. We are walking on the wrong path. We said, low cost, no cost in some places but it still did not happen. The way it has rotted, it is very difficult to pull it out.
Former President of the Bangladesh Institute of Planners, Akhter Mahmud, said, Dhaka's sidewalks are being cut and roads are being made shorter, 32 percent of the population moves on foot. There is no attention to them; the attention is focused on roads. I cannot call this proper development.
Research Director of CPD, Khandaker Golam Moazzem, said, this government has to bear the responsibility of the unplanned investments of the previous government. We can see effective initiatives in the interim government's reforms, we can see efforts to make BERC effective and this is a good initiative. He said, we have seen contractors preparing project proposals; this is also a big problem.
Umama Fatema, coordinator of the anti-discrimination student movement, said, the Awami League government has looted in the name of infrastructure development. Until now, these issues could not be talked about; today we can say that this is the benefit of the student movement.
Mahin Sarkar, another coordinator of the anti-discrimination student movement, said, we have seen that the overall economy of the country has not progressed that way; some new riches have been created. The benefits of Bangladeshi workers could not be ensured in that way. Due to which there is almost worker dissatisfaction.
Along with large industries, small and cottage industries must be kept alive. These are part of our heritage. He expressed hope that the interim government will provide a roadmap.
General Secretary Masudul Haque moderated the seminar under the chairmanship of BSRF President Fasih Uddin Mahtab. CEAB Chief Advisor Qi Changlian and Jahangir Nagar University Professor Dr. Sharmand Neelomi participated in the discussion.