Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan has sought support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for the development in the country's energy sector.
The adviser sought the cooperation as a UNDP delegation led by its Resident Representative in Bangladesh Stefan Liller paid a courtesy call on him at his office in the ministry in Bangladesh Secretariat on Tuesday, said a press release.
Fouzul, also adviser for the ministries of road transport and bridges as well as railways, blamed the past Awami League government for unplanned development projects and poor implementation in all sectors.
In most of the cases, he said projects were implemented at much higher cost than the reasonable cost, he added.
Referring to his recent visit to a power plant, the energy adviser said a power plant has been set up in Khulna at a cost of Taka 9,000 crore without however arrangements for fuel supply.
The Padma Bridge Rail Link project has been implemented at a cost of more than Taka 39,000 crore, he said adding as per the projection, the annual income from its Dhaka-Bhanga part was estimated at Taka 1,400 crore.
But in the last six months, income from Dhaka-Bhanga part of the Radma Bridge Rail Link was only Taka 37 crore, Fouzul said, adding, such dire situation would not have happened if these projects had been taken based on proper feasibility study and actual needs.
The energy adviser said the present government will remain cautious in taking projects so that people's expectations and needs are manifested in the projects and these can be economically profitable.
The UNDP delegation expressed interest in providing support to the development of energy, power, communication and rail network in Bangladesh; especially to support to increase the use of renewable energy in the country.
They assured of providing financial and technical assistance for the development of solar energy, generating electricity from waste and increasing the use of other renewable energy sources.
The UNDP delegation also assured of releasing previously sanctioned financial grant of about US$6 million as soon as possible. Road Transport and Highways Division Senior Secretary Md Ehsanul Hoque, Power Division Senior Secretary Md Habibur Rahman and Railways Ministry Secretary Abdul Baki were present at the meeting, among others.
