Dhaka: State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit has declared that the government will not permit a recurrence of past practices that resulted in the squandering of public funds on unplanned and unnecessary projects. He emphasized the importance of evidence-based planning and setting priorities during two meetings at the Secretariat.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the first meeting focused on enhancing the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of energy and electricity demand, production, and distribution. Amit highlighted the necessity for a comprehensive mapping of the country’s mineral resources, urging the preparation of a geographical and data-based master map to showcase the location and potential of these resources.
He pointed out that scattered block maps, geological survey data, and other fragmented information are currently held by various agencies. Amit instructed officials to establish a modern, integrated framework to consolidate all available data, which would provide a complete picture of underground resources and their potential. This, he said, would improve coordination among government agencies, ensuring better planning and implementation of development activities.
The State Minister also asked officials to conduct zone-based assessments of energy demand and supply nationwide, identifying bottlenecks in different regions and determining necessary actions to address them. He stressed the importance of the proper utilization of the country’s natural resources. The meeting was attended by senior officials from the Energy and Mineral Resources Division.
In a subsequent discussion on unapproved projects under the Power Division, Amit reviewed presentations from officials on various proposed schemes. He directed them to prioritize projects based on their justification and ability to meet public needs, emphasizing that the government would not tolerate a repeat of wasteful spending on poorly planned and unnecessary projects.
Amit instructed officials to provide complete information and supporting data before making decisions on project approvals. He also called for prompt measures to strengthen the capacity of the power and energy sector to improve public service delivery.