Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged the country's geologists and mineral scientists to conduct extensive research on extraction and optimum utilisation of the scarce natural resources in Bangladesh.
She made the call while inaugurating the Institute of Mining, Mineralogy and Metallurgy yesterday morning.
The institute is aimed at exploring mines and mineral resources, determine reserves, extraction planning and ensuring their utilisation through proper analyses.
Hasina said the demand for electricity is increasing everyday as it is an important element for agriculture and industrial production, education, research and household work.
She said that since technology is the change maker of the 21st century, it is important to ensure best use of technology through research and reach its benefit to the common people.
“We cannot depend on others for technology. We need our own technology. We can also successfully adapt to others' technology in our own way.”
The prime minister preferred giving priority to the innovation of alternative energy and energy saving equipment in an emerging economy like Bangladesh.
In the past three years, she said the government has added nearly 3,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity to the national grid.
“At present there is no crisis of electricity,” Hasina said, adding that the government has been working to produce 14,773 MW of electricity by 2016.
In 2001, the Awami League government had undertaken the plan to set up the Institute of Mining, but the subsequent BNP government did not take any step about this important institution.
Soon after assuming office, the present government has revived the project. The first phase of the institute has been completed and the works on the second phase are underway.
State Minister for Science, Information and Communication Technology Yeafesh Osman, State Minister for Law Adv Qamrul Islam, State Minister for Home Affairs Shamsul Huq Tuku, and Awami League leaders Abdul Jalil and Mahbubul Alam Hanif were present at the function.
Later, the prime minister laid the foundation of the Chief Magisterial Building in the district town.