Jamaat accepts PM's challenge, puts forward 10-point energy crisis plan

Highlights

• Jamaat presented its previously submitted 10-point energy plan
• The party proposed a 90-day review of implementation progress
• Jamaat called for a National Emergency Energy Cell
• It urged faster workovers of productive domestic gas wells
• Jamaat proposed bringing Bhola, Jamalpur, Jalkathi gas into grid
• The party demanded action against system losses and illegal connections

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has revived a 10-point plan it submitted to the government to address the country's ongoing electricity, gas and fuel shortages, saying the recommendations have been with the government for three months.

The party said it submitted the proposals in writing to the parliamentary special committee on the energy crisis on 21 May.

Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar made the disclosure at a press conference at the party's central office today (16 August). He demanded an explanation of which proposals have been implemented, which are under way and which remain untouched.

"The country is facing a crisis, and the government should focus on easing public suffering," Parwar said, accusing the government chief of trying to divert attention through political debates over "where were [they] for 17 years?" and other remarks. "People no longer like these political debates," he said.

Responding to the government's call for effective opposition plans, Parwar proposed regular reviews involving the government, opposition parties, Petrobangla, Bapex, Bangladesh Power Development Board, engineers, businesses and independent energy experts. 

He challenged the government to present a progress report in parliament 90 days from now, detailing which proposals were implemented, how much gas production increased, how much system loss fell and how many illegal connections were disconnected.

The party's draft also calls for a 90-day progress report and regular reviews by a special committee including opposition members.

Jamaat proposed four administrative reforms, including a "National Emergency Energy Cell" involving relevant stakeholders and allowing Petrobangla and Bapex boards to approve emergency workovers and repairs within specified financial limits.

It also wants the government to disclose when the Rooppur baseload plant will begin generation and its tariff; establish a permanent emergency tender-evaluation mechanism and single-point oversight of priority projects; and regularly publish where files are pending and for how long.

To raise domestic gas production, Jamaat proposed immediate workovers of high-potential wells, bringing Bhola, Jamalpur and Jalkathi gas into the national grid, intensifying onshore and offshore exploration, and strengthening Bapex's capacity.

The party said six measures could be implemented within 90 days: workovers of high-potential wells; publishing lists of closed and low-producing wells; expanding interim transport arrangements for Bhola gas; action against system losses and illegal connections; advance gas-supply schedules for industry, power, fertiliser and residential consumers; and rapid digital monitoring of the Single Point Mooring system and fuel supplies.

Jamaat said the crisis requires not only new plans but also fewer administrative delays and faster use of existing infrastructure and gas wells.

d not be resolved merely by introducing new plans and stressed the need to reduce administrative complications and quickly utilise existing infrastructure and gas wells.