The Government of Bangladesh has ordered curbs on shopping centres and markets to deal with the power crisis situation in the country.
It is now bearing the brunt of the energy policy adopted during the Awami League era,” he said while speaking at a programme organised by the Ex-Forces Association at the Jatiya Press Club, UNB reported. Bangladesh’s State Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Nurul Haque Nur on Wednesday said the ongoing power and energy crisis cannot be blamed on the present government, describing it as a problem inherited from the previous Awami League government, Bangladeshi news agency United News of Bangladesh (UNB) reported. Earlier reporting noted: Under a government directive that took effect on Thursday, shops, markets and shopping malls have been directed to shut shop by 8pm, according to a Reuters report.
“This new government, which has been in power for only six months, did not formulate the energy policy that created this situation. Commercial establishments are now permitted to operate only between 11am and 8pm while hospitals, pharmacies and food-related businesses have been exempted. Against the backdrop of the global energy crisis caused by the conflict in the Middle East, the government reduced the working hours of government and private offices by one hour at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on the night of 2 April.
Bangladesh’s state minister for power, energy, and mineral resources, Anindya Islam Amit, said that the government is making all-out efforts to address the ongoing gas and electricity crisis, though he could not give a specific timeline for a full resolution. Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood said the government is focusing on exploring domestic gas, utilising gas from Bhola, importing gas from Malaysia and increasing solar power generation to tackle the current crisis in the power and energy sectors. The energy minister also said special emphasis is being placed on solar power to reduce the cost of fuel imports for electricity generation.
Earlier reporting noted: Bangladesh turns to India for help as power crisis forces 8pm shutdown for malls, shops Bangladesh is facing one of its worst power crisis in years as a severe shortage of natural gas has hit electricity generation in the country, prompting the government to direct closure of shops, markets and shopping malls as early as 8pm. Earlier reporting noted: Indian high commissioner Dinesh Trivedi met Bangladesh’s Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood to discuss cooperation in the power and energy sectors, three days ago.
