Pally News Desk:
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, urging everyone to be economical in using electricity and gas, said, "I switch off myself when I leave the house."
He made the call while inaugurating the Power and Energy Week at the International Convention City, Bashundhara (ICCB) in the capital on Wednesday (December 7) morning.
Sheikh Hasina said, 'Producing electricity and natural gas is both costly and time-consuming.'
"Many people misuse and waste electricity and gas unnecessarily."
He said, "Everyone in schools, colleges, universities, offices and courts must be energy and gas efficient. This decision must be taken in all areas, both at home and abroad."
'Development of the power and energy sectors will further accelerate Bangladesh's economy.'
Sheikh Hasina said, "There is nothing shameful in turning off the switch when leaving the house."
He said, "The people of our country have some bad habits. Many people think, I am a big officer. Why should I switch off again? The orderlies and peons will come and do it. There is no shame in doing your own work."
Calling on everyone to be aware and proactive in preventing gas wastage, the Prime Minister said, "Many people do not turn off their gas stoves. They keep them lit dimly. This not only results in waste but also accidents. People die in fires."
"On the one hand, you have to be economical. On the other hand, you have to keep yourself safe."
He also asked everyone to be sincere in preventing water waste.
Sheikh Hasina said, "A lot of water is wasted. Many people waste a lot of water while leaving the tap to go to work. Water must also be used economically."
Reiterating the commitment to bring electricity to every home, the Prime Minister said, "We are emphasizing on multi-purpose power generation to implement the goal of providing electricity to every home."
Highlighting the master plan to meet the electricity demand, Sheikh Hasina said, "Under the long-term plan, we are implementing the master plan to generate 24,000 megawatts of electricity by 2021, 40,000 megawatts by 2030, and 60,000 megawatts by 2041."
Announcing plans to set up another nuclear power plant in the southern part of the country after the ongoing Rooppur nuclear power plant, the Prime Minister said, "By 2024, it will be possible to generate 2,400 megawatts of electricity from nuclear power plants."
He also mentioned the mega project to build 8 coal-fired power plants with a capacity of 9,840 megawatts under implementation.
The Prime Minister announced plans to generate 3,100 megawatts of electricity based on renewable energy by 2021.
Highlighting the current picture of renewable energy, he said, "Currently, 430 megawatts of electricity is being generated from renewable energy. 4.5 million solar home systems have been installed in off-grid areas in the country."
The Prime Minister directed the concerned to take measures to meet local demand through electricity generated through solar and add excess electricity to the national grid.
He also mentioned plans to import electricity from India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar.
Sheikh Hasina called for considering the differences between the Awami League government's past 8 years and the BNP era in power generation.
The Prime Minister highlighted various steps taken by the government in the last 8 years, including providing 1.14 crore new connections, bringing 5 crore people under new electricity facilities, ensuring 100% electricity in 10 upazilas, achieving a power generation capacity of 15,000 megawatts, establishing 80 power plants, establishing 1,902 kilometers of transmission and 97,000 distribution lines.
He also mentioned various initiatives, including exploring new gas fields and constructing NNG terminals, to meet the demand for gas.
He said that by 2021, 37 more development wells will be dug and 23 will be covered.
The Prime Minister commented that the electricity situation was very delicate during the BNP regime. She said that there were load sheddings for up to 15 hours at that time. People had to lose their lives in firing while protesting in Kansat demanding electricity.
Nepal's Energy Minister Janardan Sharma, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Tajul Islam, Secretary of the Energy and Mineral Resources Department Nazimuddin Chowdhury and Secretary of the Power Department Monowar Hossain spoke at the inaugural ceremony chaired by State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid Bipu.
