Online Desk

Stating that Tk 41,000 crore in subsidies will have to be paid even after the electricity price hike, Information Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan said that the current government is also having to bear the burden of the previous government’s theft and smuggling from the electricity and energy sectors. He also claimed that the government has brought 65 percent of the people out of the pressure of price hike.

He made the announcement at an emergency press briefing on power and energy at the Secretariat on Saturday morning. He was accompanied by Prime Minister’s Information Advisor Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman.

However, Information Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan also commented that getting out of the cycle of corruption takes time.

In this regard, Prime Minister’s Information Advisor Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman said that although the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) had increased the electricity price from zero to 75 units, the increase has been withdrawn due to the government’s request, considering the low or low-income people.

He also said that the government did not increase the price of diesel in the second round even though octane and petrol prices were increased for the same reason. In addition, the information advisor also alleged that the power sector was made dependent on imports to benefit some oligarchs.