Address corruption before hiking price
Energy experts at a press conference yesterday urged the government not to increase the price of electricity, as it will severely impact the cost of living and further escalate the ongoing price hike of essentials.
Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) organised the press conference at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity to share its opinion over the government’s proposal on raising electricity price.
Authorities have recently made a proposal to increase electricity price, citing growing power generation costs and revenue deficit as reasons, but their logic has been proven invalid and unfair, speakers said.
Power generation costs and losses that the government has been facing can be reduced significantly if corruption in the sector is addressed properly, they added.
Presenting a written statement at the event, noted energy expert Prof M Shamsul Alam said some weak policies of the government, inefficiency of some employees and corruption are the major reasons for which the revenue deficit is occurring and production cost is rising.
“Bangladesh Power Development Board, at a recent public hearing, showed a production cost hike and an income deficit of Tk 8,786 crore, but those were proven wrong during the hearing,” he said.
There are several indicators, like service quality and electricity flow, which need to be considered to increase the price, but only a few of them were prioritised in the recent government proposal, he added.
Prof Shamsul, also an energy advisor of CAB, proposed the authorities concerned to introduce a price structure based on parameters such as consumers’ location and voltage level.
Noted writer and columnist Syed Abul Maksud, who also works with CAB on power issues, said people are already suffering due to the ongoing price hike of essential commodities. Their woes will increase further if electricity price is increased, he said.
CAB President Ghulam Rahman, its General Secretary Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan and noted architect Mubasshar Hussein also spoke at the press conference, among others.
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