Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan has said that the current government is still bearing the burden of corruption and money laundering in the power and energy sector from the previous government.
He made the remarks while speaking at an emergency press briefing on power and energy at the Secretariat on Saturday morning.
Prime Minister’s Information Adviser Dr Zahed Ur Rahman was present at the briefing.
Zahir Uddin Swapan said that even after a rise in electricity prices, the government will have to provide a subsidy of Tk 41,000 crore.
He added that the present government is still carrying the burden of theft and money laundering from the previous regime in the power and energy sector. However, he also claimed that the government has managed to bring 65 percent of people out of the pressure of rising prices.
The information minister further said that overcoming corruption in the sector will take time.
While speaking on the issue, Dr Zahed Ur Rahman said that although electricity prices were increased by the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC), the government requested reconsideration for low and lower-income groups, resulting in the withdrawal of price hikes for electricity usage from 0 to 75 units.
He also said that although petrol and octane prices were increased for similar reasons, the government did not raise diesel prices in the second phase.
bd-pratidin/GR
