Cancel power, energy deals made during AL era: National oil-gas committee
The committee will hold countrywide rally on 4 November to press home its 6-point demand
Highlights:
- It urged that Rampal project be cancelled
- It demanded stopping power imports from Adani Group
- Experts said gas needs to be extracted according to capacity
- Country can save Tk40,000cr if transparency can be ensured
The National Committee for the Protection of Oil, Gas, Minerals, Power and Ports has demanded the cancellation of all the power and energy deals and made during the rule of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and asked that potential contracts should be reviewed.
Besides, the committee has sought exemplary punishment for the irregularities committed in the energy sector.
The committee placed the demands at a view exchange meeting at the Dhaka Reporters Unity Auditorium today (26 October).
The committee demanded the cancellation of the Rampal project, citing its environmental impacts.
It also asked the government to stop importing power from the Adani Group.
They also demanded a reduction in the prices of oil and gas in the country.
Anu Muhammad, member secretary of the committee, said, "Complete ownership of our resources has to be ensured. Gas has to be extracted according to our national capacity."
Dr Shamsul Alam, an energy expert, said, "If transparency is ensured in the import of coal, the country can save Tk6,000 crore per year.
"Also, Tk40,000 crore can be saved in the power sector," Shamsul added.
Countrywide rally on 4 Nov demanding trial of 'energy criminals'
The committee will hold countrywide rally on 4 November to press home its 6-point demand including trial of 'energy criminals' who looted the country's wealth in last 16 years of Awami League government through crimes and corruption.
Dr Shamsul said that the energy criminals must be tried and punished for their crimes. Otherwise, the people will not get the justice and interim government will lose the support of the mass people.
He also demanded empowering the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) so that it could take all decisions in energy sector in regard to the prices.
Anu Muhammad said the government had floated international bidding for offshore gas blocks, but the ownership of people must be ensured in the gas block before they are awarded to any foreign companies.
He alleged that the fallen regime of Awami League enacted the Speedy Enhancement of Power and Energy Supply (Special Act) 2010 only to give indemnity to the criminals for their misdeeds.
He also demanded the cancellation of the Rooppur nuclear power plant deal saying that this project will put the lives of 1.2 crore of people in great risk.