State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit has directed officials to avoid undertaking poorly planned development projects, saying taxpayers’ money must be spent only on initiatives that are necessary, economically viable and beneficial to the public.
He made the remarks while chairing two separate meetings at the Bangladesh Secretariat on prioritising development projects and improving the efficiency of the country’s power and energy sector.
Addressing a meeting on unapproved projects under the Power Division, the state minister said future development initiatives must be selected based on necessity, feasibility and their contribution to public welfare rather than following past practices.
“Like in the past, we cannot afford to waste taxpayers’ money by undertaking unplanned and unnecessary projects,” he said.
Amit instructed officials to submit complete information and proper justification for every proposed project before it is considered for approval, stressing that priority should be given to projects capable of delivering tangible benefits to the people while strengthening the country’s power sector.
The meeting reviewed several unapproved development proposals, with officials presenting their plans and outlining the expected benefits.
He directed authorities to determine project priorities based on practical necessity, economic viability and long-term national impact.
At another meeting, the state minister discussed measures to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of Bangladesh’s energy demand, production and distribution systems.
Emphasising the importance of long-term planning, he called for preparing a comprehensive and integrated national mapping of the country’s mineral resources.
He said the government needs a reliable, data-driven inventory identifying the location and potential of mineral resources across Bangladesh, replacing the existing fragmented geological maps maintained by different agencies.
A complete picture of the country’s underground resources, he said, would strengthen coordination among government agencies and support more effective planning and implementation of development projects.
The state minister also instructed officials to prepare zone-wise assessments of energy demand and supply across the country so that existing constraints can be identified quickly and appropriate policy measures adopted without delay.
He further emphasised the efficient utilisation of the country’s natural resources and directed authorities to complete the necessary measures to enhance the capacity of the power and energy sector as quickly as possible.
Power Division Secretary Mirana Mahrukh and senior officials from the division and its affiliated organisations attended the meetings.
