Editorial
3-year power target
Let there be significant increase to meet country's demand
FInance Minister AMA Muhit deserves appreciation for his frank observation that it might not be possible for the government to raise electricity by 1000 MW in next three years as promised in Awami League's election pledge. However the five-year target of 7000 MW will be met, he assured, during his Thursday meeting with editors. In a show of courtesy, a rarity these days, he even candidly praised the steps taken by the caretaker government to add power to the national grid from rental power plants.
The nagging problem of shortfall of electricity and resulting load-shedding is affecting life and work in many ways than we can actually comprehend. Manufacturing industries, especially export-oriented readymade garment factories, are experiencing reduction in efficiency and output. Other vital sectors including health care and education are also being affected in big ways because of frequent power outage. Therefore, it is indisputable that uninterrupted electricity supply is the key to all development programmes, especially when we harbour the dream of creating a digital Bangladesh to face the challenges of the 21st century. We believe it is an achievable target since we already have a large number of IT savvy young professionals ready to do wonders. But, first and foremost, the government will have to ensure further generation of electricity, modernisation of the distribution network, minimising system loss and snapping of all illegal connections. Attaching utmost importance to improving the power sector, the present government also needs to initiate feasibility studies on the proper use of resources like coal, solar power, wind and water (hydroelectricity) to meet the increasing demands for electricity.
It is worth mentioning here that the former adviser to the caretaker government, Akbar Ali Khan has euphemistically said recently that electricity is more important than democracy. We believe what he said was meant to impart the immense importance of electricity in a modern world. Therefore, we may not agree with his expression but we are inclined to endorse the spirit of the argument in the present context. Undoubtedly, there has to be substantial growth of the power sector in terms of productivity and distribution. If 1000 MW is not achievable then go for 700 MW or 500 MW. Let there be a beginning and then build on from there, otherwise implementation of the development agendas would suffer a severe set back.
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