The power and energy sector has attracted investments of US$ 18-20 billion over the past decade, helping the country to attain 'astonishing' development, Prime Minister's energy adviser Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury has said.
He said the development in the power and energy sector has been possible because of the visionary leadership of Sheikh Hasina.
"We never saw such a leadership in the past and we don't know when the country will get this type of leadership again like Sheikh Hasina," he added.
The ongoing development will not continue unless the current government comes to power again, he said.
Mr Chowdhury's comments came at a press conference in the city Wednesday.
The Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources (MPEMR) organised the event to brief about eight projects that Sheikh Hasina inaugurates today (Thursday) through a videoconference from her office.
Of the eight projects in the power and energy sector, seven have already gone into operation while the foundation of one project will be laid today.
The power projects, which the Prime Minister will inaugurate, include 275 megawatt (MW) Barapukuria coal-fired power plant, 100-MW Brahmangaon HSD power plant, 100 MW Awrahati HSD power plant, 149MW Kadda HFO power plant, 300MW Pangaon HSD power plant, 141 MW Sirajganj dual-fuel combined cycle power plant and 20 MW solar power plant.
The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of 400MW Ashuganj Power Plant.
State minister Nasrul Hamid, power secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus, energy secretary Abu Hena Rahmatul Munim, chairman of Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) Khaled Mahmood and chairman of Rural Electrification Board (REB) Moin Uddin were present at the briefing.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Chowdhury urged the journalists to refrain from criticising the government for the next two months.
"Please, keep your criticisms of the government on hold for the next two months and extend your support to the government so that it can come to power again," he said.
State minister Nasrul Hamid noted around 94 per cent people of the country have got access to electricity.
He admitted that many places of the country do not get uninterrupted and quality supply of electricity because of weak transmission and distribution systems.
Uninterrupted and quality electricity would, however, be available within the next couple of years, he said.
Mr Nasim expressed his concern over the recent hike in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in the local market as there is no mechanism in place to regulate its prices.
"We've been working on the issue, but still we couldn't find any effective mechanism to regulate the price," he said.
Power secretary said 80 upazilas have attained 100 per cent electricity connections and 102 more upazilas will come under 100 per cent electricity connection coverage today through inauguration by the Prime Minister.
Some 92 per cent people have access to electricity, which was 47 per cent in 2009, he said, adding 23 million new electricity consumers have been added over the past one decade.
The country's overall electricity generation capacity increased to around 20,430 MW, including captive and renewable energy, he said.
Currently, 55 power plants with a combined electricity generation capacity of 13,564 MW are under construction.
