Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni on Thursday blamed soaring electricity bills on alleged money laundering and wasteful spending in the power sector during the Awami League government’s tenure.
He made the remarks at a government programmes in Bamna upazila of Barguna.
Moni alleged that the Awami League had laundered Tk30 lakh crore abroad, severely affecting the living standards of ordinary people.
He claimed the previous government had established unnecessary power plants across the country and paid Tk200 crore to Tk300 crore a month to plants that remained idle.
These payments contributed directly to higher electricity bills, he said.
Moni also alleged that former prime minister Sheikh Hasina had spent Tk35 crore annually on food alone.
In contrast, he said, the current government had been forced to repay Tk26,000 crore in loans and interest within just five months.
Referring to the achievements of former president Ziaur Rahman, Moni said Bangladesh had achieved self-sufficiency in food within three years of his coming to power.
He also credited Ziaur Rahman with initiating the country’s manpower exports to Saudi Arabia.
At the programme financial assistance cheques were distributed among disadvantaged families, delivery orders for relief assistance were provided to Durga Puja mandaps and tree saplings were distributed among students.
