Dhaka, Jun 06 (V7N) – Information Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan has alleged that widespread corruption, theft and smuggling during the tenure of the previous Awami League government are responsible for the continued pressure on the country's electricity and energy sectors.

The minister made the remarks at an emergency press briefing on electricity and energy issues held at the Secretariat on Saturday morning. Prime Minister's Information Adviser Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman was also present at the briefing.

Speaking to journalists, Swapan claimed that the current government is still dealing with the consequences of irregularities in the power and energy sectors inherited from the previous administration.

“The burden created by theft and smuggling in the electricity and energy sectors under the previous government is still being borne by the people and the current administration,” he said.

The information minister further claimed that government measures have helped ease the impact of rising prices for a significant portion of the population. According to him, around 65 percent of people have been relieved from the pressure of increased living costs through various policy interventions.

However, he acknowledged that overcoming entrenched corruption and structural problems in the sector would take time.

“Getting out of the cycle of corruption is a time-consuming process,” he said.

At the briefing, Prime Minister's Information Adviser Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman explained that although the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) had approved an increase in electricity tariffs, the government requested the withdrawal of the price hike for consumers using between zero and 75 units of electricity per month in consideration of low-income households.

He also noted that while prices of octane and petrol were adjusted, the government refrained from increasing diesel prices in a second round of fuel price revisions to reduce the financial burden on ordinary citizens.

Dr. Zahed further alleged that previous policies had made Bangladesh's power sector excessively dependent on imported energy resources, benefiting a small group of influential business interests while increasing long-term vulnerabilities in the sector.

The government said it remains committed to reforming the energy sector, ensuring affordability for consumers and strengthening domestic energy security in the years ahead.

END/SMA/AJ