The interim government will not extend project timelines or increase costs, according to the Advisor for the Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources, Muhammed Fauzul Kabir.
Speaking as the chief guest at a seminar titled “Prosperous Bangladesh through Reform and Sustainable Development” organized by the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) at Hotel Pan Pacific Sonargaon, Khan emphasized that the government’s policies are fundamentally guided by the people’s aspirations for transformation.
Khan highlighted a key difference between the interim administration and previous governments, stating that unlike others who assume office through elections, the interim government has assumed responsibility to ensure reform and accountability, unburdened by vested interests.
The advisor stressed that their commitment is to honor the sacrifices of those who fought in the July Revolution, with all reforms and initiatives taken in their memory.
“The interim government aims to ensure that public funds are used in the public’s best interests, avoiding personal or familial influences,” he stated.
Khan also elaborated on two primary types of reform: policy and institutional. For policy reform, he noted that structures of corruption set by previous governments have been dismantled. Laws from 2010 have been suspended, and Section 34(A) was abolished to enable transparent public hearings for setting power and energy tariffs.
On institutional reform, the requirement that the Managing Director of the metro rail authority be a former government secretary has been removed, and a BUET professor now heads the Power Grid Company Limited.
To address project transparency, Khan noted that the government aims to foster genuine competition in tender processes. “Minimizing corruption and meeting public expectations are our priorities,” he added, calling upon journalists to support these efforts.
The seminar featured welcoming remarks by BSRF President Fosih Uddin Mahtab, a keynote presentation by North South University Economics Professor Dr. AKM Atiqur Rahman, and was moderated by BSRF General Secretary Masudul Haque. Panelists included Dr. Md. Shamsul Haque, Professor of Civil Engineering at BUET; Dr. Shormind Neelormi, Professor of Economics at Jahangirnagar University; Dr. Khondaker Golam Moazzem, Research Director at the Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD); Md. Mehedi H. Iman, Chief Environmental Specialist, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Railway Bridge Project; and others.
The seminar concluded with addresses from distinguished guests, including Md. Sardar Shahadat Ali, Director General of Bangladesh Railway, and Md. Kang Changliang, Chief Advisor to the China Energy Authority (CEA).
