65% of marginalised people exempted from electricity price hike pressure: Swapon

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon today (6 June) said considering the existing global energy crisis and the country's internal reality, the incumbent government has remained 65% of the country's marginalised people out of the purview of the routine decision taken by Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) to increase electricity prices.

"About 65% of the country's general and low-income electricity users, who were under the BERC price hike decision, have been completely exempted from the additional pressure of this price hike," he said.

The information minister made the remarks at a press briefing held at the Press Information Department (PID) conference room at the Secretariat here this morning.

He said the BERC adjusted the electricity price as per its routine work based on a specific criterion.

"However, the government was determined to protect the marginalised people. As a result, even though this decision puts pressure on wealthy customers, 65% of the low-income general people will remain exempted from this price hike," he said.

In the briefing, Prime Minister's Information and Broadcasting Adviser Dr Zahed Ur Rahman read out a written statement on the activities of the Ministry of Power and Energy.

The information minister and the adviser highlighted the context of electricity and fuel price hike. 

Mohammad Fakhrul Islam, deputy principal information officer, was also present.

In the briefing, Swapon said in the current global context, all countries having import-dependent energy systems, including Bangladesh, are going through a major crisis.

" We are compensating due  wrong policy and import-dependency in the energy sector, " he said, "If we had the right policy for the extraction of our own energy resources discovered and identified underground in the past 20 years, we would not have had to be such an import-dependent country today."

He said that because of the mistakes of the previous policy that we have been hit hard and constrained by the global crisis . Now, as an importing country, we have to set our prices according to the global standards and obligations of the international market," he added.

Referring to the fallen Awami League government, the information minister said the terrible cycle of corruption and looting that has been created in the power and energy sectors for over the past 15 years has happened right in front of all. 

"It will take some time to bring the entire sector out of this deep cycle of offense and corruption and return it to a healthy trend. However, the spirit or determination of the current government is very clear," he said.

Swapon said the government has taken a long-term plan to achieve self-sufficiency in energy and keep the price at an affordable level, while the ongoing immediate problems also have to be considered with great importance.

Mentioning that the burden of black money crimes has to be borne, he said the government still has to pay a huge subsidy of Taka 41,000 crore in the power sector.
The information minister said in today's critical management, the government has to bear the burden of offenses of those who have become owners of huge amounts of black money and have siphoned off money abroad.

He expressed the government's determination to develop a normal and regular process of information exchange between the government, media and the public in the interest of the people.

"The government wants to inform the people, the people also want to know, and a healthy media will serve both as a connector. We want to enter this normal process of information flow, where we will regularly sit with you and take advice on any urgent matter," Swapon said.

He said accountability for every work of the incumbent government will be constantly conveyed to the people through the media.