Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today unveiled the foundation plaque of Matarbari 1200-megawatt coal-based power plant in Maheshkhali.

The prime minister inaugurated the plant through a videoconference from her official residence 'Ganobhaban' in the capital.

The ultra super critical coal-fired power plant on 1500 acres of land at Maheshkhali in Cox's Bazar will be commissioned in 2024.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) is financing the plant.

Speaking on the occasion, Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh gained the power generation capacity of 16,000 megawatt now from only 3,200 megawatt in 2009, which is a big achievement for the nation.

Assuming power in 1996, she said, the Awami League (AL) government opened up the power generation for the private sector for meeting the growing demand of electricity.

Noting that any new venture in Bangladesh faces hindrance and criticism, the prime minister said, "When any new venture is taken in Bangladesh, it faces different types of obstruction.

Various formulas come and many persons appear with various theories and speak in different types of words."

Coming down heavily on the critic of new venture, she said there are some people who always are in dismay. When a new venture is taken, they start spreading despair saying that everything is being destroyed, she added.