Check corruption instead of hiking power, gas price

Vehemently opposing the government's plan to hike gas and electricity prices again in January next year, the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), and Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal yesterday vowed to resist the "anti-people" and "undemocratic" move.
Speaking at a discussion at Muktibhaban, the left leaders as well as experts said that without checking corruption and waste of public money in the energy sector, the government had decided to raise the prices.
The government has to go for another round of hike due to a "wrong policy" and "corruption", said Prof Anu Mohammad, member secretary of the National Committee for Protection of Oil-Gas and Mineral Resources, Electricity Sector, and Ports.
He strongly criticised the government for using expensive rental and quick rental systems to generate electricity and blamed this for the increase of costs.
Terming the move "irrational", CPB General Secretary Syed Abu Zafar Ahmed said the "one-party" parliament did not  have the moral right to impose any undemocratic decision on people.

CPB President Mujahidul Islam Selim threatened that they would wage tougher agitation to force the government into cancelling the anti-public move.
In this regard, the two left parties will hold nationwide protest rallies today. Another rally will take place in front of Jatiya Press Club in the capital on Monday.
Abu Zafar declared the agitation programmes as the government took the decision without holding a mass hearing.
Noted energy expert Prof Badrul Imam said the plan was aimed at covering up the irregularities in the sector.
Instead of strengthening the state-run Bapex to dig new gas wells by providing support, the government is weakening the institution and promoting foreign companies, he said.
Economist Prof MM Akash, also a CPB central leader, wondered why the government is not recovering Tk 57,000 crore from the defaulters of different state-run banks and instead is imposing additional costs on the public.
The government should strictly supervise the gas and electricity meter usage system to check corruption and waste of public money, said Prof Shamsul Alam, another energy expert.