PM reprimands Energy Secretary for foot dragging on gas law
Bangladesh liberated in 9 months, he takes as long to get expert opinion on gas act, she says
Dhaka, Oct 12 (UNB)-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Monday’s cabinet meeting reprimanded Energy Secretary Mohammad Mohsin for foot dragging in collecting experts’ opinion and suggestions for formulating proposal on the Gas Act.
“Bangladesh attained its independence in nine months time but you (power secretary) could not collect the experts’ opinions in as much time!” A source close to the cabinet meeting quoted the Prime Minister as telling the Energy Secretary about the “excessive delay”.
The secretary was asked just after the government assumed office in January to work and collect expert opinions to formulate a gas act, the source said. The Prime Minister in the cabinet meeting was learnt to have asked all government officials to be more active for
timely completing all government works.
Monday’s cabinet meeting okayed the Gas Act 2009 to ensure proper use of the country’s decreasing natural gas resources.
According to the law in the making, there will be particular provisions and rules for punishing people both financially and by imprisonment for using illegal connections of gas and bypassing meter. Briefing journalists after the cabinet meeting, Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Abul
Kalam Azad said the Gas Act has been approved as use of gas in mills and factories is on the increase day by day but there was no complete law for proper management of gas supply, distribution and sale.
Earlier, an ordinance on the gas act was promulgated in 2007. But, later, it was felt that the country needs a complete Gas Act for best utilization of the gas resources, Azad said Besides, the cabinet approved a proposal for signing an agreement between Bangladesh and Denmark on Capital Investment, Development and Preservation.
A report on participation of Bangladesh delegation in the 53rd meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency held on September 14-18 in Vienna of Austria was placed before the cabinet.
Moreover, the cabinet discussed the implementation of cabinet decisions taken under the new government. A report made on the basis of decisions taken at cabinet meetings held from January 7 to August 31st was presented in the cabinet meeting.
Azad said in the last 36 meetings, a total of 204 decisions were approved, of which 128 decisions were implemented completely while 76 others under implementation.
Azad said the rate of implementation of cabinet decisions so far is 69 percent.
