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TL;DR
- Tk 35,000 crore looted from power and energy sector in 2022.
- CAB demands no price hike for power and energy for 3 years.
- Calls for a government investigation into 15 years of embezzlement.
- Proposes reforms and prosecution of individuals involved in corruption.
Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) has claimed that a staggering Tk 35,000 crore was looted from the power and energy sector in just one year. Additionally, the organization has demanded that there should be no increase in power and energy prices for the next three years. CAB leaders also put forward 10 other demands aimed at protecting consumer rights.
Over the past 15 years, nearly Tk 1 lakh crore has been spent under the guise of capacity charges in the power sector, with a significant portion allegedly ending up in the coffers of companies close to the ruling Awami League government. By avoiding competition and selling power and energy at inflated prices, billions of taka have been embezzled. These allegations were made by CAB during a press conference titled “Reform of the Energy Sector to Prevent Looting,” held today at the Sagar-Runi Hall of the Dhaka Reporters Unity.
CAB’s energy advisor M. Shamsul Alam stated, “In just 2022 alone, Tk 35,000 crore was embezzled from the power and energy sector, according to our investigative research. To determine the total amount looted over the past 15 years, a comprehensive government investigation is necessary.”
Alam called for the publication of a list of individuals involved in corruption and looting at any level of power, primary energy, and renewable energy supply, and for them to be prosecuted as “energy criminals.”
CAB also demanded that the price of power and energy not be increased for the next three years and outlined 10 additional demands aimed at ensuring consumers receive fair prices, measurements, and quality services without falling victim to looting.
The demands include preventing unjust and unreasonable expenditures to balance deficits, curbing price hikes of goods, and addressing crises by not increasing power and primary energy tariffs within the next three years. To achieve this goal, they proposed forming an “Energy Sector Reform Commission” under the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) to draft reform proposals based on CAB’s proposed Bangladesh Energy Transition Policy 2024.
Other demands include:
- Forming a search committee based on stakeholder proposals for BERC appointments.
- Removing senior cadre officers from various positions on the boards/committees of companies under the energy sector.
- Replacing top officials of Petrobangla, BPC, PDB, REB, SREDA, and other companies in the power and primary energy sectors.
- Repealing the Speedy Supply of Power and Energy (Special Provisions) Act 2010.
- Enforcing three regulations proposed by BERC in 2012 regarding pricing of petroleum products (petrol, diesel, furnace oil, kerosene, etc.).
- Publishing a list of individuals involved in corruption and looting at any level of power, primary energy, and renewable energy supply and prosecuting them as “energy criminals.”
CAB’s legal advisor Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua, General Secretary Advocate Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan, and Organizational Secretary Professor Dr. Syed Mizanur Rahman (Raju) provided further analysis on these issues during the press conference.
Source: TBS News
