Electricity lines to reactivate in flood-hit areas once water recedes: Fouzul

Power lines in flood-affected areas of eastern Bangladesh will be reactivated once the water recedes, according to Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, Adviser for the Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources. 

He made these remarks while visiting a 35-megawatt solar power plant operated by a private company in Shibalay of Manikganj on Saturday (August 24).

To prevent accidents, power lines have been shut down in these areas, and a damage inventory has already been prepared, he said.

"As soon as the water recedes, the power lines will be quickly restored," Khan assured.

The energy adviser also acknowledged past irregularities in the power and energy sector. 

"In 2010, projects were awarded without competition under the Fast Energy Procurement Act, and its term was extended until 2026. This allowed projects to be given to people close to the government, leading to corruption and inflated project costs," he said.

Fouzul emphasised that the Energy Regulatory Commission should be the body to determine electricity and fuel prices, not the government. However, a clause added last year allowed the government to increase fuel prices directly, a policy he has since abolished.

"This government is not a party government; it is everyone's government, brought to power by the people's sacrifices," Khan said, adding that the government is committed to making the necessary changes. "Electricity and energy prices will not be raised unnecessarily as before."

He also mentioned that the 2010 Act was halted on his first day in office, and the clause giving the government the power to raise prices was abolished. "From now on, projects must be won through competition, not connections," he said.