Bangabandhu bought five gas fields on August 9, 1975 from Shell Oil, which have made a huge contribution to the country's economic development and energy security, said Nasrul Hamid, State Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources.
“Along with this, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Father of the Nation, started a new journey by giving high priority on the electrification of rural communities as stipulated in Article 16 of the Constitution of Bangladesh,” he added.
The state minister made the remark while speaking as the chief guest at a virtual discussion meeting on 'Bangabandhu's contribution to the development of power and energy sector' on the occasion of 'National Mourning Day'.
The Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources on Tuesday organized the virtual event.
Nasrul Hamid said “If we work inspired by the courage and foresight of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, we will reach the desired goal quickly. In order to implement Vision 2041 before the scheduled time, everyone has to work from their respective positions motivated by Bangabandhu's patriotism.”
The state minister said that those military dictators who seized state power by killing Bangabandhu did not pay any attention to the power and energy sector. When Bangabandhu's daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina came to power in 1996, the fragile power and energy sector started to turn around. The current Prime Minister opened up the private sector for power generation in 1996. As a result of which the government as well as the private sector is now able to contribute to the generation of electricity.
Referring to the current crisis, the state minister said that Bangladesh is also suffering due to the rising energy prices in the global energy market due to the Russia-Ukraine war. However, it is temporary.
He also said that Sheikh Hasina's government is working to reduce the suffering of common people. If the global situation improves, the price of electricity and fuel will reach a bearable level by the end of this year.
Among others, former Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University Professor A M S Arefin Siddique, Wasika Ayesha Khan, President of the Standing Committee of the National Parliament on Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Power Secretary Md. Habibur Rahman, BPC Chairman A B M Azad, PDB Chairman Md. Mahbubur Rahman, Petrobangla Chairman Nazmul Ahsan, and Power Cell DG Mohammad Hossain also attended the virtual event presided over Md. Mahbub Hossain, Senior Secretary of Energy and Mineral Resources Division.
