Include cancellation of Adani power deal in polls manifestos

The youth wing of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) has demanded that political parties and candidates contesting the upcoming national election include the cancellation of the power purchase agreement with Indian company Adani Power in their election manifestos.

They also placed 12 other demands on power and energy issues at a press conference at the auditorium of Dhaka Reporters’ Unity yesterday, calling for commitments from election contestants.

The other demands include postponing an increase in imports of liquefied natural gas for at least the next five years; prohibiting any increase in coal-based power generation; transforming the sector into a service-based one from a profit-driven model; reducing imports of fossil fuels by at least 5 percent within the next five years; increasing solar power generation to 15 percent; ensuring 100 percent onshore gas exploration by state-owned BAPEX; cancelling deals with all furnace-oil-based power plants under the Quick Enhancement of Electricity and Energy Supply (Special Provisions) Act, 2010; ensuring compensation from those companies; preparing a roadmap for using the explored gas in Bhola and Chatak; reducing the power of the LPG Operators Association of Bangladesh; and providing LPG licences through open tenders.

Dhaka University students Aritro Roddur Dhar, Ashiqul Islam, Sabat Mostafa Prothon and Sadman Sakib Khan Sami, and Brac University student Talha Bin Imran presented the demands. CAB’s Energy Adviser M Shamsul Alam was also present.