Prime Minister’s Policy and Strategy Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman has said that the current energy crisis has arisen due to indecision in the energy sector by the previous government.
He made the remarks while answering journalists’ questions at the weekly briefing at the Secretariat on Tuesday.
“There is a gas shortage. One FSRU has been damaged. The government is working to tackle the crisis. In the past, proper measures were not taken in this sector,” he said.
During the briefing, he also addressed the 2018 national election, saying the government has not yet taken any formal steps on the matter. “If the 2018 election is not judged, it will be an injustice,” he added. He further said Bangladesh’s destruction began with that election.
Asked about the compulsory retirement of 32 joint secretaries, Zahed said, “The government can retire anyone after 25 years of service. Those who have been retired were all deputy commissioners during the 2018 election. Their retirement was based on service tenure.”
On Mohammed Shahabuddin, he said the president will not face any legal proceedings while in office, but could after his tenure ends, regarding past or future matters.
About the food situation, Zahed said the government’s current stock is 2,396,753 tonnes — the highest in the nation’s history.
Responding to a question about the 10 per cent tariff imposed by the United States, he said discussions are ongoing, but the effective rate is not higher than before.
