Tk 10,000cr in unpaid utility bills

Mentioning that consumers owe the government Tk 10,000 crore as utility bills, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid yesterday said action will be taken against the defaulters.

“We have a total of Tk 10,000 crore in arrears to different consumers. Of them, Tk 4,000 crores are due as gas bill while Tk 2,000 crore as oil bill. We have Tk 3,000 crore in dues to Biman Bangladesh Airlines alone,” he said while briefing reporters after a workshop at Bidyut Bhaban in the city.

The state minister also said they will go for stern action against illegal gas connections to households and factories.

“We will disconnect the lines very soon,” he said.

Nasrul Hamid added that they listened to allegations raised by various business bodies, including Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA).

He said they will ensure gas supply round the clock to factories, and will form a committee with representatives from the government and private sector within two weeks to identify different problems and put forward suggestions.

Asked whether the government is thinking about hiking electricity tariff, the state minister said they were looking into the matter.

“We know the prices of almost all products somewhat depend on our sector. So, we are thinking whether the electricity tariff will be hiked or not.”

Prime Minister’s Energy Adviser Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury also spoke at the event with Subir Kishore Choudhury, chairman (Secretary) of Bangladesh Energy and Power Research Council (BEPRC), in the chair.