Tarique invites opposition to join 10-strong body on energy crisis

Opposition says it will propose five names shortly

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has proposed the formation of a 10-member joint committee, comprising representatives from both the Treasury and Opposition benches, to address the ongoing energy crisis.

The premier announced five names from the government side during a discussion on the energy situation in parliament on Thursday and urged the opposition to provide as many names to complete the body.

The proposal came after a suggestion made on Wednesday by Leader of the Opposition Shafiqur Rahman, who called for a bipartisan effort to find solutions to the fuel and electricity challenges.

"The opposition's proposals and suggestions will reach the government through this committee," Tarique told the House, presided over by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad.

"If there are realistic suggestions, the government will take the initiative to implement them."

Describing the energy crisis as a "global problem", Tarique emphasised that his Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is always ready to engage in dialogue with anyone in national interest.

The prime minister proposed Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood as head of the committee.

The four other members nominated from the government side are State Minister Aninda Islam Amit, and lawmakers ABM Ashraf Uddin, Moinul Islam Khan, and Miah Nuruddin Ahmad Apu.

Shafiqur, who is also the chief of Jamaat-e-Islami, thanked the premier for accepting the proposal.

"We hope this parliament will become the centre for solving all national problems, God willing," he said, adding that the opposition would submit its five names shortly.

Tags: Energy crisis, power shortage, fuel crisis, cooperation, BNP, Jamaat, parliament, special committee