DHAKA : Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Dr Zahed Ur Rahman today said 300 megawatts of electricity will be added to the national grid from the first unit of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in August this year.
“This project will meet 10 percent of Bangladesh’s total electricity demand and about two crore people will be benefited from it,” he told a press briefing at the Secretariat here.
Information and Broadcasting Secretary Mahbuba Farjana was present.
Claiming that there is no fuel crisis in the country, Dr Zahed said there are 170,000 metric tonnes of diesel in stock and another 180,000 metric tonnes will arrive by April 30.
“There are no long queues at oil pumps. So the crisis will be overcome soon,” he said.
Dr Zahed said the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) of the government approved 14 new projects involving over Taka 13,445 crore last month.
Of the projects, there are five new and five revised projects, he said.
Funds have been allocated especially for power generation, road communication, and local administration development, he added.
The adviser said: “We are working continuously for the country’s development and the welfare of its people through new projects. However, due to the fuel price hike, vehicle fares have increased, but the government fares of buses and minibuses in Dhaka remain the same.”
Stating that border killings have decreased by 75 percent, Dr Zahed said the government wants to bring it to zero level and this is possible through diplomatic efforts with neighbouring countries.
On the measles issue, he said so far 94,23,799 children have been vaccinated.
“Vaccination of children is our main goal, because it is possible to reduce the tragic death rate of the children.”
Regarding the media, the adviser said the government will not tolerate the dissemination of wrong information and misinformation in the media in any way.
Media can criticise the government rationally but it should it spread wrong or misinformation in any way, he said.
In the last two months, Dr Zahed said, a large amount of drugs and arms have been recovered and 35 people have been arrested.
He said the government is conducting a strict campaign to control terrorist activities.
The steps taken by the Bangladesh government with Indian assistance to control terrorist acts on the border are being implemented, he said.
“The goal is to reduce the number of killings on the border to zero level,” the adviser added.
