Dhaka, Dec 21 (UNB) - Rejecting the criticism of the media and the civil society, Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Wednesday defended the government’s earlier move to go for costly power production through rental power plants.

“The media and the civil society complain that we’ve tried to resolve the crisis of power through costly production of power (rental plants). I strongly justify this… to meet the crisis which overwhelmed the whole economy,” he said.

The Finance Minister was addressing the inaugural session of the two-day 11th Annual SANEI Conference at a city hotel.

Speaking as the chief guest, Muhith said the country registered 41 percent export growth in the last year and also the highest industrial growth rate. “How was it possible? It was possible because of investment in electricity.”

He said that the power crisis was bringing down the whole economy and the country had suffered from power crisis for the last seven years. “I would take pride in the fact that the situation has been tackled.”

The Finance Minister said that the immediate future in power in the next two years is brighter as the government is moving out of the rental power plants to more regular plants.

He said the rental plants at the end of the deal would supply 2000 MW of electricity and the government has already ordered for more than 4000 MWs of power production.

Admitting the problem in gas supply, Muhith said the government is trying to resolve it.