Asifur Rahman

Transmitting Adani’s power to get costlier

The overall cost for transmitting electricity from the Adani power plant in Godda, Jharkhand is set to increase further as two projects meant for that end are eyeing cost and time revisions.

1w ago

Electricity price hiked again by 5pc

The government yesterday increased the electricity price by 5 percent, the third such hike this year, at a time when fuel and energy prices are on the decline around the world.

3w ago

Adani power purchase against ‘public policy’: How could such a deal be signed?

"It is a punishable offence to sign such a contract -- we believe that our agencies have the ability to identify the corruption in this deal"

3w ago

Heads Adani wins, tails Bangladesh loses

Gain is for Gautam Adani and loss for Bangladesh: that is how the electricity purchase deal with the Indian business tycoon may turn out to be

3w ago

Power Supply During Summer: At least $4.45b needed to cover fuel costs

At least $4.45 billion is needed in fuel costs to ensure adequate power supply from February to June, when demand is set to increase by more than 50 percent, the Bangladesh Power Development Board (PDB) estimates.

BPDB seeks discount from Adani Power

Bangladesh has sought a temporary discount from Adani Power on the price of coal that would fire the thermal power plant in Godda, Jharkhand in light of the escalating prices, said the Indian electricity producer.

Bottled LPG Price: BERC rate just on paper

Retailers are not following the fixed price of bottled liquified petroleum gas using the excuse of a supply crunch and a dated pricing method.

Retail power price: Hiked again, in just 3 weeks

The government yesterday increased the electricity price once again by 5 percent at the retail level -- the second hike in 19 days as it steadily retracts subsidies from the power sector while piling the burden on common people already struggling with inflation.

Fixing Energy Prices: Govt curtails BERC’s power as regulator

Due to government interventions, the independent oversight of the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission is being compromised, crippling its ability to ensure transparency in the sector, energy at a reasonable cost, and consumers’ interest protection.

Big hike in gas prices for power plants, industry

The government yesterday raised the retail price of gas by 14.5 percent to 178.9 percent for industries, power plants and commercial establishments,

Power price hiked by 5pc

The government yesterday raised the electricity price for consumers, on average, by 5 percent, skirting around procedures of Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC).

We want better energy ties with Delhi: Nasrul

Bangladesh wants deeper ties with India in energy and power sector to avoid future energy crisis, State Minister for Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said yesterday.

Adani Godda Power Plant: Bangladesh likely to get 750MW by March

Bangladesh will start getting electricity from India’s Adani Godda Power Plant in March, said Nasrul Hamid, the state minister for power, energy and mineral resources.

1,000MW solar power project stuck in red tape

Despite the government’s commitment in the national plan to increase production of renewable energy, an investment proposal to produce 1,000 megawatts of solar power is waiting for approval at a time when the country is facing persistent power-cuts.

Ready for a grand gathering

Though the ruling Awami League said it will hold its 22nd national council in a simple manner, yesterday’s scenario at Suhrawardy Udyan hinted at a huge gathering.

Power, gas to get costlier

The prices of electricity, gas and diesel are set to increase one by one as the government pulls back the subsidies in keeping with the austerity measures.

Power import from Adani plant delayed

Power import from the controversial Adani Godda power plant has been delayed once again as the 1,600 megawatts thermal plant is yet to be complete.

Govt wrests control of energy pricing

Electricity and gas prices can now be adjusted without a public hearing after the cabinet yesterday amended a law, paving the way for introducing dynamic energy pricing in Bangladesh.

Power tariff hike will add to woes

The decision to increase the wholesale price of electricity by 19.92 per cent to Tk 6.20 per unit has raised concerns among businesses who say consumers may soon have to bear the added burden.

Electricity price up 19.92pc at producers’ end

Electricity price at the producers’ end was yesterday hiked by 19.92 percent, a development that is expected to fuel inflation as the distributors ultimately pass on the burden to end users.

Power distributor seeks to hike retail price

Even though the state minister for power assured that the bulk power price hike would not have any implication on consumers right away, a distributor has already submitted a proposal to increase retail electricity price.

Gas Crisis: No end to plight anytime soon

The acute gas crisis, which has been plaguing the industrial sector and households, is unlikely to see a drastic improvement anytime soon.

Oil import for 2023: BPC gets nod to buy 54 lakh tonnes

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs yesterday granted Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation permission to import 54 lakh tonnes of oil next year in a bid to secure supply of the key commodity amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine and geopolitical tension.

Solar power the saviour

Bangladesh could generate 6,500 megawatts of solar electricity in the next three years if the country invests $11 billion in solar instead of importing LNG from the spot market at the same cost, said global energy think-tank Ember.

21 Dhaka neighbourhoods: Power outages every other hour

People living in the capital’s Shyampur, Nandalalpur, Kajla or Matuail experienced load-shedding every alternate hour yesterday. 

Not following procedure caused grid failure: PGCB probe report

Three factors caused the national grid failure on October 4, found the probe body of Power Grid Company of Bangladesh.

BERC may hike bulk electricity price tomorrow

Amid a deepening power crisis in the country, Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission may hike the bulk electricity price tomorrow.

Load-shedding worsens sharply

Power outages during the three-day weekend were so frequent that they prompted the state minister for power to speak about the extent of the problem yesterday.

Power grid failure: Result of neglect, lessons not learnt

Experts blame poor electricity transmission equipment, the lack of a smart grid, and the ill-equipped National Load Dispatch Centre for Tuesday’s national grid failure that caused power blackouts in half the country.

Blackout hits half the country

The country yesterday suffered the worst power outage in eight years, which, according to officials, was triggered by a trip at a substation in Ghorashal.

Loadshedding: The relief assured yet to materialise

The government’s assurance of relief from power cuts within September is likely to fall flat as people in the capital and elsewhere continue to suffer frequent loadshedding in sweltering heat.

Foodpanda: Customers question rationality of ‘platform fee’

Food delivery platform foodpanda Bangladesh has imposed a “platform fee” of Tk 3 since August, payable on every order by the customer. 

All-out effort to tame rice prices

The government yesterday slashed the import duty on rice and is also working to import about 12 lakh tonnes of food grain including rice as it looks to rein in the price of the staple amid a cost of living crisis.

Import demand for diesel high as ever

The import demand for fuel remains high as ever despite the government initiatives to reduce consumption, raising questions about the logic behind the strict measures that only fuelled inflation.

BPC irregularities: JS committee stunned

There has been no external audit of the accounts of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation over the last 10 years, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Undertakings has found.

Indemnity recommended for Petrobangla officials from legal proceedings

A recommendation has been made to a parliamentary standing committee that a martial-law era provision be brought back for shielding Petrobangla officials from legal proceedings for “acting in good faith”.

Bibiyana gas field: Overreliance threatening energy security

The Bibiyana gas field is shouldering a major burden of gas supply even though there are 19 other gas-producing fields -- posing serious threat to Bangladesh’s energy security in the coming days.

Eastern refinery not expanded in 53 years

The country has to regularly import diesel because of its inadequate oil refinery and storage facilities that have not been upgraded since 1968.

Electricity crisis may worsen

The government’s plan for one to two hours of daily power cuts is failing, especially in the north, and the signs are that the electricity crisis may worsen across the country in the coming days.

Capacity charge for power: Tk 16,785cr paid in 9 months

The government paid Tk 16,785 crore in capacity charges to power plants in the first nine months of the last fiscal year for 22,118MW daily power generation capacity.

Titas snapped 996km illegal lines in 2.5yrs

Titas, the country’s largest gas distribution company, has snapped illegal gas lines stretching for 996.81 kilometres in the last two and a half years, which is equal to 7.5 percent of its legal lines, according to a report.

Hope against hope

The government has assured people suffering from severe power cuts that the situation will improve after September when three new coal-based power plants start operation, but experts expressed doubts about it.

Gas crunch brings back power cuts

People have been enduring severe power cuts for the last few days as electricity production was hampered mainly due to a shortage of natural gas supply.

Petrobangla has to return Tk 12,227cr

Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission in the verdict of a public hearing has ordered the Petrobangla to return Tk 12,227 crore taken from its security and development funds.

Fuel prices may go up by at least Tk 10

The government is bent on raising fuel prices by Tk 10-30 each litre, despite vehement opposition from consumer rights groups and experts.

Pressure on forex reserves: Govt exploring loan of up to $4.5b from IMF

As a precautionary move, Bangladesh has started talks with the International Monetary Fund about taking a loan of $4-4.5 billion to shore up the precarious foreign currency reserves.

Use of foreign aid rises, but may miss target

Although foreign assistance disbursement is increasing continuously, the country is still behind its target for this fiscal year. 

Matarbari plant: Govt won’t implement phase-2

The government has decided not to implement the second phase of the Matarbari coal-fired power plant, a cabinet member confirmed yesterday hours after Japan announced the cancellation of funding for the project.

March 27, 2022
March 27, 2022

Berc recommendation: Pre-paid gas users victimised

Households with pre-paid meters will suffer most if the recommendation of the 43 percent hike in gas price is implemented -- a development that can slow down the installation of the meters.

March 21, 2022
March 21, 2022

Lights turning on in Payra region

Patuakhali’s Rangabali upazila, a coalition of 22 small islands in the Bay, did not have access to electricity just a year ago.

March 20, 2022
March 20, 2022

PM to inaugurate 1,320MW Payra power plant tomorrow

The Payra area in Patuakhali is going to be a major economic hub with a sea port, a special economic zone, an airport and the country’s biggest coal-fired power plant that will officially launch operation tomorrow.

March 18, 2022
March 18, 2022

Complaints against telcos piling up

The stack of complaints against mobile phone operators is increasing everyday but the authorities are having to keep those aside because of a case pending at High Court (HC).

March 14, 2022
March 14, 2022

Prize Bonds: Tk 35 crore winnings remain unclaimed

Have you ever bought a national prize bond? If you have, then please match your bond numbers with the draw results again as you could be one of those lucky few who are yet to claim their prize despite winning the lottery.

March 13, 2022
March 13, 2022

Does anyone ever leave DU?

The central playground of Dhaka University almost seemed like it accommodated the whole campus on that one field yesterday.

March 11, 2022
March 11, 2022

TCB coverage: Govt decides to deliver to 5cr people

Amid soaring prices of daily essentials, the government has decided to deliver 61,000 tonnes of soybean oil, sugar, chickpea and lentil to five crore people through the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh.

March 9, 2022
March 9, 2022

Runaway energy prices raise alarm

The runaway fuel oil and gas price in the international markets has already hit Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserves and intensified pressures on the exchange rate amid the escalation of imports at higher prices.

February 18, 2022
February 18, 2022

Stimulus for the laid-off: Only 0.5pc spent in a year

The government spent only about 0.5 percent of a Tk 1,500 crore stimulus package unveiled in 2020 for laid off workers of export-oriented apparel and leather factories.

February 18, 2022
February 18, 2022

Water project awaiting revision: Officials ‘not involved’, yet they travelled abroad

Three government officials toured abroad this month using funds from a water development board project in Cox’s Bazar, although none of them was directly associated with the work.