Speaker cautions minister over unfulfilled pledge

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed on Sunday cautioned the Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud over an unfulfilled commitment made on the floor of Parliament previously about gas supply to a state-owned fertilizer factory, advising him careful assessment in future of all relevant factors before making any promise in the house.

The speaker’s caution came after independent MP Barrister Rumin Farhana expressed her frustration over the government’s failure to implement a pledge regarding gas supply to Ashuganj Fertiliser Factory.

During Sunday’s parliamentary sitting, Rumin Farhana raised a supplementary question about gas supply to this fertiliser plant, reminding the minister of his previous assurance about it.

The independent lawmaker said the minister had promised in Parliament that gas would be supplied to the factory by May 1.

“More than a month has passed since that deadline, but the Ashuganj Fertiliser Factory has still not received gas supply,” she said, seeking a clear timeline for when the plant would be connected to the gas supply system.

In response, Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud cited the country’s gas shortage, saying the government is currently prioritising gas supply to power plants over fertiliser factories.