On 03 September 2024Â A delegation led by UNDP Resident Representative Stephen Liler paid a courtesy call on Muhammad Fawzul Kabir Khan, Advisor to the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Road Transport and Bridges and Railways.
The meeting was held on Tuesday (03 September) in the conference room of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources at the Secretariat.
At this time, the adviser wants the cooperation of UNDP in the development of the country’s energy sector. He said that unplanned development projects were taken up and implemented in all sectors in the country during the previous government. In most of these cases the project has been implemented at a cost much higher than the reasonable cost. Giving an example of a recently visited power plant, he said, a power plant has been set up in Khulna at a cost of Tk 9000 crore without making arrangements for fuel supply. The Padma Setu Rail Link Project has been implemented at a cost of more than 39 thousand crore rupees. According to the projection, the annual income of its Dhaka-broken part was estimated at Tk 1400 crore. But in the last six months, the income there was only 37 crores. Such dire situation would not have happened if these projects had been taken up after proper feasibility study and actual needs.
He also said that the present government will be careful in accepting the project. People’s expectations, needs, will take up projects that can be economically profitable. G2G system will be given priority in government procurement process. Transparency will be ensured in government procurement through competitive process through open tender.
He pointed out that care should be taken to ensure that the project work is completed on time, as the cost of the project increases in the long run.
The UNDP delegation expressed interest in providing support to the development of energy, electricity, communication and rail networks in the country, especially in increasing the use of renewable energy. They promised to provide financial and technical assistance to increase the use of solar energy, electricity generation from waste and other renewable energy sources. In addition, he promised to deliver the previously sanctioned financial grant of about 6 million dollars as soon as possible.
During the meeting, Road Transport and Highways Department Senior Secretary Md. Ehchanul Haque, Electricity Department Senior Secretary Md. Habibur Rahman and Railway Ministry Secretary Abdul Baki were present.
Visits: 7
