DHAKA, July 30, 2026 — State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit has directed officials to adopt a more strategic and data-driven approach to planning in the energy sector, stressing that the government will no longer tolerate wasteful spending on poorly planned and unnecessary projects.
Speaking at two separate meetings held at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Thursday, the state minister said every proposed project must be justified based on national priorities, public benefit and long-term sustainability.
One meeting reviewed recommendations aimed at improving the efficiency and affordability of Bangladesh’s power generation, energy supply and distribution systems, while the other focused on evaluating and prioritizing unapproved projects under the Power Division.
Highlighting the importance of comprehensive energy planning, Amit called for the preparation of an integrated national mapping of the country’s mineral and energy resources. He said Bangladesh needs a unified, modern and information-based database showing the location, potential and geological characteristics of all mineral resources.
He instructed officials to consolidate fragmented block maps, geological surveys and resource-related data currently scattered across different agencies into a single coordinated framework.
“Having a complete picture of the country’s underground resources will strengthen coordination among government agencies and enable more effective planning and implementation,” he said.
The state minister also emphasized the need for zone-wise assessments of energy demand and supply across the country. He instructed officials to identify regional constraints and develop practical solutions without delay, while ensuring the efficient utilization of the country’s natural resources.
During the meeting on unapproved power sector projects, Amit reviewed proposals submitted by officials and directed them to evaluate each project based on its necessity, economic justification and contribution to improving public services.
He warned against repeating past practices of approving poorly conceived projects that resulted in the misuse of public funds.
“We cannot allow a repeat of the waste of public money caused by unplanned and unnecessary projects in the past,” he said, directing officials to submit comprehensive technical and financial data before any project is considered for approval.
The state minister also instructed the Power Division to expedite initiatives that would strengthen the operational capacity and service quality of the country’s electricity sector.
Power Secretary Mirana Mahrukh, senior officials of the Power Division and executives from power sector companies attended the meetings.
