Staff Corsrespondent

Energy and Power Advisor Fouzul Kabir Khan on Sunday issued an order to indefinitely stop the undertaking of new projects under the “Quick Enhancement of Electricity and Energy Supply Act” and halted future unnecessary hikes in power and fuel prices.

Special needs for urgent price hikes would be discussed by the advisory council of the interim government, and appropriate hearings would be held, in this regard.

The energy advisor to the interim government took these decisions in a meeting with ministry officials on Sunday, the first day of his joining office at the Bangladesh Secretariat. Later, highlights of the meeting were disclosed in a press briefing.

In keeping with the decision, the controversial “Quick Enhancement of Electricity and Energy Supply (Special Provision) Act” has been suspended after nearly 14 years, after seven extensions.

Amendments to the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission Act 2003, which allowed the Awami League government to hike energy prices frequently without any urgent need, have also been suspended.

The “Quick Enhancement of Electricity and Energy Supply (Special Provision) Act” allowed the ousted Awami League government to award energy projects and contracts to implementers in a rushed and arbitrary way, driving out competition and the chance to save public money through cost efficiency of top bidders.

As a result, many lobbyists, crony capitalists and close acquaintances of ministers won contracts, despite charging heavily for piling profits.

On the other hand, the 34A clause of the amended BERC Act, allowed the government to hike energy and power prices through BERC. The suspension of the amendment would allow no such intervention by BERC.