Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today assured the countrymen that the country would soon overcome the gas and power crisis, saying the government is taking immediate measures and pursuing a long-term solar power plan to reduce energy import dependence.
“So far, we were consumer of electricity generated from imported sources. If the government’s solar power generation plan is properly implemented, we will no longer be consumers of imported energy, we will be solar power producers,” he said. The Prime Minister said this in his valedictory speech in the third session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad.
Urging the opposition to present the actual situation to the people instead of resorting to provocative behaviour over the current crisis, he said, BNP has a historic record of successfully bringing the nation out of every crisis. Together with our colleagues in the opposition, we will soon be able to free the country and its people from this power and gas crisis.”
Referring to remarks made by the opposition leader on the gas and power crisis, he said the problem had not been created suddenly. “This problem did not arise suddenly. For more than a decade, no effective initiative was taken to extract gas from domestic sources during the fascist regime,” he said.
Citing gas extraction by neighbouring countries in the Bay of Bengal, the Prime Minister expressed regret that no efforts had been made to extract gas from Bangladesh’s maritime boundary in the Bay.
He also mentioned the prevailing perception that drilling activities in the Bay were halted to favour a particular country and protect its interests. He said the previous government had pushed the country towards complete dependence on imported energy.
Explaining the background to the current crisis, Tarique Rahman said a war broke out in the Middle East just 10 to 12 days after the formation of the new government, creating major disruptions in gas and oil supplies as the region was a major source of the country’s energy imports.
At the same time, one of the country’s two floating LNG terminals (FSRUs) suffered an unexpected accident due to an electric shock and became completely inoperative. This double blow made the situation more complicated,” he said.
He urged the opposition party to play a responsible role instead of engaging in political blame games over the crisis. He recalled that the previous government changed office and bank transaction hours and announced additional weekly holidays for educational institutions in 2022 to tackle power shortages following the Russia-Ukraine war.
He said no permanent solution to the power crisis had been achieved despite creating debts for the state by favouring certain groups in the name of quick rental power.
Tarique Rahman also urged both the government and the opposition to present the actual situation to the people instead of resorting to provocative behaviour over the crisis.
"In the democratic environment achieved through the sacrifices of around 1,400 people and the injuries and disabilities suffered by 30,000 people in the 2024 Mass Uprising, provocative behaviour centred on the crisis will only benefit the fallen and ousted fascist forces," he said.
Assuring the people that the crisis would be overcome, the prime minister referred to the past record of BNP in dealing with crises. He said, "Whenever BNP has been entrusted with governing the state in the past, it has successfully brought the country out of any disastrous situation."
"Based on Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman's policies and the experience of the party, we will be able to overcome the country's gas and power crisis very soon together with our colleagues in the opposition," the premier said.
The session began at 3:00pm with Deputy Speaker Kayser Kamal in the chair. After Maghrib prayers, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad Bir Bikrom read out in the House the President's order concerning the conclusion of the session.
As per parliamentary tradition, Opposition Leader Dr Md Shafiqur Rahman spoke first, followed by the Leader of the House. The prime minister began his speech at 7:45pm. The third session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad began on August 27.
