Bangladesh’s Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud, has alleged that the former Awami League government, during its fifteen and a half years in power, did not undertake any project in the public interest. Speaking as the chief guest at a discussion organized by the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) at the Dhaka Reporters Unity on Monday, he claimed that all projects were designed for personal gain and that the previous administration had damaged the country’s power, energy, and economic sectors. He added that the responsibility for repairing this damage now rests with the current democratic government.

At the same event, energy expert Professor Dr. M. Shamsul Alam presented a keynote paper titled “National Energy Development Strategy.” The paper highlighted irregularities and corruption during the former Awami League government’s tenure and proposed measures to reduce import dependency in the power and energy sectors, aiming to make them more beneficial for the public.

The discussion emphasized the need for reforms to ensure that future energy policies prioritize national and consumer interests.