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Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku has criticized the policies of the ousted Awami League government, alleging that its power and energy projects primarily served "oligarchs" rather than the public good. Tuku asserted that "Hardly any major power project undertaken by the previous government was free from vested interests." He claimed that these projects "primarily served private interests rather than the national interest."

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Hardly any major power project undertaken by the previous government was free from vested interests.

Speaking at a citizens' dialogue organized by the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), Tuku detailed the financial challenges inherited by the incumbent BNP government. He stated the sector was burdened with costly contracts and mounting liabilities around Tk 56,000 crore. The government continues to purchase electricity at high prices under existing contracts while selling it below cost, leading to monthly subsidies and accumulating new liabilities. He noted that approximately 80 percent of the country's electricity is generated by private producers, many operating under expensive contracts.

Addressing recent tariff adjustments, Tuku explained the government's effort to balance affordability for consumers with financial sustainability. He highlighted the strategy to reduce reliance on imported fuel by expanding renewable energy sources, with a particular focus on rooftop solar. The minister believes rooftop solar offers significant potential for consumers to generate their own electricity, easing pressure on the national grid and reducing costly fuel imports. The government has introduced tax and policy incentives to encourage renewable energy investment, aiming to generate around 10,000 megawatts from these sources by the end of the current government's term.

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Project after project primarily served private interests rather than the national interest.

Tuku also affirmed the government's commitment to avoiding the use of productive farmland for energy projects, stating, "We have no moral right to destroy productive agricultural land if alternatives are available." Prof M Shamsul Alam, energy advisor to CAB, presented a keynote paper stressing the need for Bangladesh's renewable energy transition to balance investor and consumer interests for a sustainable energy future.

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We have no moral right to destroy productive agricultural land if alternatives are available.