Nasrul stresses moral values to curb corruption

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid stressed the need for moral values to curb corruption.
"Machine cannot change a society but it is the man behind the machine who can contribute a lot to putting an end to all odds and irregularities," he said while talking to the Daily Observer.
"We can install a very up-to-date system in power and gas sector but if the system operators go wrong does the system makes any sense?," Nasrul posed a question while responding to a question of implementing the Prime Minister's 'zero tolerance' for corruption in power and energy sector.
"Yes, this time we are going to get our system automated. We are going to introduce a strong monitoring system and adequate number of devices....it might help us to stop corruption but I do believe that an individual is the major player here to stop corruption," Hamid said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina picked Nasrul Hamid for the second time as her junior as he earned confidence in discharging his duties over the last couple of years. Implementing power projects, installing grid lines, awarding contracts or negotiating deals with the other countries or private sector, Nasrul Hamid proved his excellences.
"This time our challenge is to provide power and energy to consumers within an affordable price range. We are examining issues related to energy price."
LNG import, port dredging, power import, expediting installation work of base load power plants and offshore blocks awarding and drilling job are the issue, he said.
"If we are able to handle the issues properly we can keep energy price low," the State Minister said.
Describing the Awami League manifesto for the 11th parliamentary polls, Nasrul Hamid said the Awami League pledged to increase the country's power generation capacity to 24,000MW by 2023. "We will work with all of our ongoing projects."
"Our current installed power generation capacity, including captive power and renewable energy, stands at 20,400 MW. However, we have taken up an extensive capacity expansion plan to add about 11,600 MW over the next five years aiming to generate 24,000MW of electricity by 2021 and 40,000MW by 2030," he said.
To implement the plan we need around $80 billion in investment. A total of 55 power plants with a combined generation capacity of 13,654MW electricity are in the process of being constructed.
A huge work will be taken place in transmission and distribution sector, the State Minister said.
A fan of modern Art and music Nasrul Hamid, also a great sports lover, said: "I was the student of Residential Model School and College in 1980 and 1982. I used to play all available games. Now I spend some of time in organizing sports here," the state Minister said.
"Our primary goal is to ensure smooth and uninterrupted supply of electricity for the people of Bangladesh. We are aiming to diversify the country's power sector, he said.
Focusing on increasing energy output, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources said aiming at producing 12,000 million feet per day (mmcfd) gas by 2041, the government had finalised the draft of a new master plan for the country's gas sector.
The plan has been drafted especially by keeping in mind 7 per cent annual economic growth after 2020, he noted Nasrul Hamid has said this time the government will pay more attention to the development of the country's energy sector. Last time we had given more time for the development of the power sector.
As Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina holds the portfolio of his ministry, Nasrul Hamid described it as a rare opportunity for him to work under her direct supervision.
He said he will devise plans for his ministry in the next three months and then go for implementing those in the next four and half years. "Our main target will be the year of 2021 and all plans will be made keeping in mind that target," he added.
The state minister also directed the officials to have a mindset to work 24/7 a month.
"In last five years we have worked on our mid-term policy. Now it will be different as we want to be a developed country within very short time spurring us to import gas from Myanma and exploring onshore and offshore gas extraction opportunities to help implement the master plan."
The ever-growing demand for gas will also be met through imported liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG)," the State Minister said.
 "Since the scenario of the global energy sector is changing, Bangladesh needs to ensure energy security amid its limited resources and that is why we are importing LNG from abroad," he said.
The master plan reads that Bangladesh, on average, faces a shortage of 2,754 mmcfd gas against the demand for over 3,729 mmcfd.
Nasrul Hamid got involved in politics when he was a student of the Department of Economics of Dhaka University. Son of Professor Hamidur Rahman, a organizer of freedom fighters, the then MLA from Keraniganj, was the Treasurer of Central Awami League.
Nasrul Hamid was elected parliament member from Dhaka-3 as a candidate of Awami League in 2008, 2014 and 2018.
However, Nasrul has been discharging his duty as a State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources for the second consecutive time.