Providing subsidy to power sector won’t always be possible: PM

Urging all to maintain austerity in electricity use, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said it will not always be possible to provide subsidy for power generation.

"It's not always possible to give subsidy… everyone should keep that in mind," she said.

The prime minister said this while inaugurating two power generation stations, 11 grid sub-centres, six transmission lines and 100 percent electrification activities in 31 upazilas under 18 districts across the country virtually from her official residence GonoBhaban.

Sheikh Hasina said the actual cost of power generation is much higher than the price per unit at the consumer level.

She mentioned that the government is still giving subsidy to provide power at a lower price to the consumers.

She said the government has taken massive programmes for the development of the country so that people could attain economic solvency.

She said, 97 percent people are now under electricity coverage with the capacity of 23,548 MW while the government has set a target to raise the coverage to 100 percent by 2021.

"We've taken a plan to produce 24,000 MW by 2021, 40,000 MW by 2030 and 60,000 MW by 2041," Hasina said.

The prime minister said the government is setting up 100 economic zones across the county where there will be industrialisation and employment generation for which more electricity will be needed.

"…We want to ensure economic development of the whole country; we want to ensure development of rural areas; we want to provide all urban facilities to rural areas," she said.

Recalling the "negligence" of the BNP-Jamaat government towards Tungipara (Gopalganj), the birthplace of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, she said the present government never neglects any specific area in the process of development.

Of the two newly-built power generation stations, one is in Bogura, Hasina said.

Asking about the August 15, 1975 massacre, she said the whole nation had lost hope with the massacre.

The prime minister said the government is working to materialise the ideals, aims of the Father of the Nation to liberate the country. "Our aim is to fulfil the Father of the Nation's dreams, reach the goals, put a smile on people's faces and give them a better life," she said.

State Minister for Power and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid along with other officials were connected from the ministry while a cross-section of beneficiaries from five districts also virtually connected with this programme.

The prime minister talked to some of the beneficiaries through the videoconference.