Muhith dismayed by power failure

The finance minister is annoyed with the power ministry for power supply interruptions despite production outstripping the demand.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 24 April 2014, 02:21 PM
Updated : 25 April 2014, 09:05 AM

Abul Maal Abdul Muhith on Thursday said the production had been increased to 11,000 MW against the demand of 6600 MW.

“….but I feel very bad when I hear about difficulties (in supply),” he said speaking at the annual general meeting of the International Business Forum of Bangladesh (IBFB).

Muhith said when they came to power in 2009 there was “serious crisis” of energy supply.

“We took strong and also expensive measures,” that he said had “reasonably overcome” the problem.

The production capacity soared to 11,000 MW from 3500 MW, he added.

“With this, a demand of 6600 MW can easily be met. I believe the people in electricity department, power division, and energy division should take a serious note of this problem,” he said.

“This cannot happen,” he said.

Earlier, Hafizur Rahman Khan, President of the IBFB, a body of 350 businessmen from different sectors, claimed lack of electricity hampered their business.

“Our entrepreneurs have to compete with entrepreneurs of other countries where there is no frequent electricity failure, no high bank interest rate, transportation of goods does not take so much time as in Bangladesh, no strike, no destruction, no burning of vehicles”.