The ‘Quick Enhancement of Electricity and Energy Supply (Special Provision) Act, 2021’ was passed in the Parliament on Thursday (September 16).
The Bill was introduced as quick rental plants bill to fulfil demands on an emergency basis a decade ago. The bill now seeks extension of length of the law for five more years.
The State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry Nasrul Hamid placed the Bill in the House and it was passed by voice vote. The Bill was passed aiming to boost power supply to the consumers.
Placing the bill, Nasrul Hamid said the bill has been placed in the House for enacting a special provision through amending an act which was enacted in 2010. He said that the ‘Quick Enhancement of Electricity and Energy Supply (Special Provision) Act, 2021’ was passed in Parliament, aiming to extend its length of time by another five years.
Earlier on September 6, the Cabinet approved the proposal on extension of the tenure of the ‘Quick Enhancement of Electricity and Energy Supply (Special Provision) Act, 2010’ for five more years till 2026.
Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam had said that the amendment was brought to extend five more years the tenure of the law which was going to expire this year.
He said that the Cabinet gave the final approval to the draft of ‘Quick Enhancement of Electricity and Energy Supply (Special Provision) (Amendment) Bill, 2021’ in order to ensure uninterrupted supply of electricity and energy for the sake of developing Bangladesh into a higher middle-income country by 2030 and a developed country by 2041.
The tenure of the special provision, enacted in 2010, was extended on several occasions in the past. However, no change other than time extension has been made to the proposed law, said the Cabinet Secretary.
Enacted in October of 2010 for two years, the law was first extended by two years till October 11 of 2014 and by four years till October 11 of 2018. The special provision was extended for the last time for three years in 2018.
After the Awami League returned to power in 2009, the government began signing deals for renting power plants for up to 16 years. The law was passed to legalize the plants.