‘Poles, with electricity of course’

Humble electricity poles have sparked laughter in a press briefing, perhaps in reminiscent of its controversial past.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith, while disclosing the decisions of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase to the reporters on Wednesday, burst into laughter mentioning that the committee has approved the purchase of 60,625 electric posts.

Purchase of electric poles during the erstwhile BNP-led government had triggered widespread controversy. The Awami League leaders taking a dig at their political rivals had been claiming that during that time people had got only poles, but not electricity.

The most visible evidence of that 2001-6 era was strewn along the streets and dirt roads: unused electricity poles lying about in their thousands. The government of Khaleda Zia had allegedly bought the poles from a syndicate controlled by her elder son Tarique Rahman.

But, allegations have it that the electricity generated during her rule grew by not a single megawatt.

File Photo

When asked whether his laughter, while uttering the word “pole”, had anything to do with that controversy, Muhith said, “Our priority is to ensure that no pole is installed without electricity connection.”

He, however, was quick to add that some extra poles were always needed to be kept.

The meeting has approved the purchase of electricity poles of various sizes at a cost of Tk 1.17 billion under the rural electrification expansion programme to provide power connection to 1.8 million consumers of Rural Electrification Board.

The meeting also approved selection of contractors for construction of second rail-bridges over Bhairab and Teesta rivers. The two projects have been undertaken with a loan from India.