Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad has warned Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud for failing to keep a promise made in parliament, advising him to study the relevant issues thoroughly before making any commitment in the House. The Speaker made the remark on Sunday (7 June) over a supplementary question from MP Rumeen Farhana about gas supply to the Ashuganj fertiliser factory.
Taking the floor, Rumeen Farhana reminded the minister of an earlier promise. “The minister stood in this great parliament and gave me his word that gas would be supplied to the Ashuganj fertiliser factory by 1 May. More than a month and three or four days have passed since then, but we still have not received the gas supply,” she said, asking specifically when the factory would get gas.
In reply, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud cited the country’s gas limitations, saying priority is currently being given to supplying gas to power plants over fertiliser factories. “He wants electricity, and he also wants gas at his fertiliser factory. There is a limit to gas. That is why we have to keep our power plants running, and for that reason we cannot give him the connection there,” he said. The minister added: “No drilling was done at any time in the past 17 years. We have started drilling for the first time and hope, God willing, that we will get gas. After getting gas, we will be able to give connections to factories like the Ashuganj fertiliser plant.”
After the minister’s statement, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad reminded him of his earlier promise: “Minister, you said in parliament that gas would flow from the first of the month. That apparently was not delivered.” Calling on ministers to be more responsible in making promises in parliament, the Speaker said: “Whatever promise you make in parliament, make it after studying the drilling and all other relevant matters.”
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report