Enhanced access to electricity important, says former BB governor
FE REPORT | Sunday, 23 May 2021
Ensuring access to electricity has been pivotal for the macroeconomic success of Bangladesh, former governor of Bangladesh Bank (BB) and Chairperson of Unnayan Shamannay Dr. Atiur Rahman said on Saturday.
"The country has witnessed a welcome surge in electricity production over the last decade or so. And this has fuelled success in mechanizing agriculture, growth of the non-farm sector in rural areas, digitisation of government services, proliferation of digital financial services, digital innovations in education and above all- industrial growth," Professor Rahman said while presenting a keynote paper at a webinar titled 'Bangladesh at 50: Amazing Journey of Inclusive Development' organized by Bangladesh Power Management Institute (BPMI).
Secretary of Power Division Md. Habibur Rahman was present as the chief guest. BPMI Rector Mahbub-Ul-Alam, NDC, chaired the session while more than one hundred Power Division officials from all over the country and BPMI trainees participated in the online event, according to a press statement.
In his keynote presentation, Dr. Rahman said that Father of the Nation- Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman through his prudent leadership brought Bangladesh out of the ashes of war and took it to the expressway of inclusive development within a very short period.
"And his daughter our honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is continuing that journey."
Bangladesh has enormous potential to realize and has a lot to do in the process of recovery (from the pandemic-induced economic slowdown), according to the former governor.
He also emphasised on ensuring this process of recovery and further growth be green (environment-friendly).
"The Power Division must play the lead role in the proliferation of green/renewable energy in Bangladesh," Dr. Rahman noted.
The secretary in his remarks said that the Power Division was working relentlessly to ensure every household's access to electricity in Bangladesh within the shortest possible time.
The Power Division and other stakeholders must also focus on ensuring quality of the electricity supply in the coming days, the secretary of Power Division added.
The keynote presentation session was followed by a vibrant discussion session where Dr. Rahman replied to queries from the webinar participants.