State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has said, “This might be a dream that there is a daylong power cut across the country. A power cut may last for several hours. We are not paying any fines for keeping the power plant inoperative. But it needs to pay the capacity charge if power is not taken from any power plant.” 

The state minister made the remarks in response to a supplementary question from opposition party chief whip Mujibul Haque in the parliament. 

In his question, Mujibul Haque said, “Still, there is a daylong power cut. Several unions of Karimganj under Kishoreganj, as well as his constituency, are experiencing a daylong power cut. Load shedding is taking place every day. Summer has not approached yet. Tk 1 lakh crore has been given as a fine for rental and quick rental in the last 10 years. The fine is also being provided now, so why is there a shortage of electricity and why is there load shedding?

In reply, the state minister said, “I doubt that there is a power cut in his area. All the parliamentarians will admit that it is not right that there is a daylong power cut in any area.”

At this time, Mujibul Haque disagreed with it. 

BSS adds: Nasrul Hamid today said currently, 2,656 megawatts (MW) of thermal power is being imported from India.

"Currently, 141 thermal power plants with a capacity of 23,159 MW have been installed in the country. Besides, 2,656 MW thermal power is being imported from India," he said while responding to a supplementary question raised by Mohammad Saiful Islam during the question-answer session at the Jatiya Sangsad.

He said that as per the government’s plan, 18 thermal power plants with a total capacity of 11, 303 MW are under construction and in various stages of tender process.

Currently, 13 thermal power plants with a total capacity of 9, 0 83 MW are under construction, he added.

Between 2024 and 2027, these power plants will be launched in different parts of the country, including Matarbari, Gazipur, Syedpur, Ghorashal, Mymensingh, Rupsha, Rampal, Patuakhali, Meghnaghat, Keraniganj and Chattogram.

Apart from this, tenders for the construction of five thermal power plants with a total capacity of 2,220 MW are under various stages, he said.

Between 2026 and 2030, these power plants will be launched in different parts of the country such as Fenchuganj, Ghazaria, Mirsharai, Meghnaghat and Raozan, he said.

Replying to another question from lawmaker Jannat Ara Henry, he said that various activities have already been undertaken by the government to gradually reduce the dependence on fossil fuels and expand solar power as an alternative energy source.

In continuation of these activities, solar power plants of various capacities have already been established with a combined capacity of 971.70 MW, said Nasrul.

Under the program, a solar power plant of 7.6 MW peak capacity has already been set up on the bank of Jamuna River in Sirajganj Sadar Upazila, he said, adding that from which, electricity is already being supplied to the national grid.

Besides, the work of setting up another solar power plant with a peak capacity of 88.75 MW is in progress, the implementation of which is scheduled for completion on June this year, he added.