The Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) on Sunday called for sweeping reforms in the power and energy sectors to curb what it described as “plunder”, waste and unjustified costs that are ultimately borne by consumers.
The consumer rights organisation also demanded structural reforms to the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) to make it more transparent, efficient and responsive to public interests.
The demands were raised at a human chain organised by CAB outside the International Mother Language Institute in Dhaka ahead of a BERC public hearing on tariff proposals for renewable energy-based merchant power plants.
CAB said it had sought permission to hold the programme inside the hearing venue but was not allowed to do so. It subsequently organised the human chain on the footpath outside the institute.
Speakers at the programme said electricity and energy should be treated as public services rather than sources of profit.
They argued that power and energy prices could be reduced by eliminating waste, excessive costs and irregularities instead of repeatedly raising tariffs.
They accused BERC of repeatedly protecting the interests of the government and power companies instead of consumers.
They said the commission had failed to play an effective role even at a time when the country was facing serious economic and energy challenges.
Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) General Secretary Alamgir Hossain criticised what he described as increasing privatisation of power and energy services, saying this would put a greater burden on consumers.
He also warned that if the same practices surrounding gas and conventional power were replicated in renewable energy, the sector would fail to deliver meaningful benefits to consumers.
Communist Party of Bangladesh General Secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince said BERC had repeatedly been urged to become more consumer-friendly but had failed to respond adequately.
He questioned why public institutions funded by taxpayers were increasingly being perceived as protecting profit-making interests.
“If this situation continues, people will be forced to take to the streets again,” he warned.
Calls for BERC reform
Aritra Roddur Dhar, a member of the CAB Youth Parliament and a student of economics at Dhaka University, said affordable energy should be recognised as a basic right.
He alleged that consumers were ultimately bearing the cost of capacity payments and other questionable expenses through higher electricity bills.
He also criticised BERC public hearings, saying the commission should hold hearings not only on tariff increases but also on proposals to reduce prices.
He called for structural reforms to the BERC Act to strengthen the commission’s transparency, efficiency and capacity.
Key demands
CAB called for structural changes to the BERC Act, including greater consumer participation in tariff-setting and the right of consumers to propose changes to electricity and energy prices.
It also demanded that BERC establish benchmark tariffs for renewable electricity through transparent public hearings and give consumers legal scope to pursue alleged energy offenders through criminal proceedings.
The organisation opposed further privatisation of power and energy services and called for government-run utilities to operate as public services rather than profit-making entities.
CAB also demanded a review of costs and tariffs to eliminate waste, excessive charges and alleged irregularities, arguing that prices and subsidies should be reduced by stopping such practices rather than by placing a further burden on consumers.
The organisation further called for alleged energy offenders to be brought to justice.
CAB General Secretary Advocate Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan urged BERC to prioritise consumer and public interests in investment and tariff-setting in the renewable energy sector.
He called on the commission to take immediate steps to protect consumers and implement the organisation’s proposals to make the power and energy sector more accountable and affordable.
CAB said its central message was clear: power and energy policy should prioritise public interest and affordable services over profit, excessive costs and waste.