CAB asks government not to sign Energy Charter Treaty

CAB Consumers Association of Bangladesh

Jehangir Hussain

A delegation of Consumes Association of Bangladesh (CAB) on Tuesday handed over an application signed by 25,720 consumers to Energy and Mineral Resources Division Secretary Dr. Khairuzzaman Mozumder at his Secretariat office  demanding not to sign the Energy Charter Treaty to  protect their interest.

The delegation included CAB Senior Vice-President Prof Dr Shamsul Alam, General Secretary Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan, Treasurer Dr Monjur-E-Khoda Tarafder, online platform Voktakantho’s Editor Quazi Abdul Hannan and Programme Coordinator Ahmad Ekramullah.

Energy and Mineral Resources Division’s Additional Secretary (Planning) Humayun Kabir and Additional Secretary (Operation) SM Zakir Hossain were present, according to a CAB press release.

Prof M Shamsul Alam told the Secretary, “We request the government not to sign the ‘Energy Charter Treaty’ as it would not protect consumers’ rights in energy sector.”

He said the Energy Charter Treaty is an international agreement. If the government signs this agreement, it will not be possible to protect energy rights and consumer interests in the country. In the Bangladesh Energy Transition Policy 2022 clearly mentioned how consumers’ energy rights have been eroded, how energy rights can be increased and what areas need to be worked in energy sector.

He said that the amended BERC Act handed over  the regulator’s role to the government.

It has created conflict of interest with officials of the ministry running the energy sector companies as well as performing regulatory responsibilities, he pointed out.

Humayun Kabir said that consumers would be affected if Bangladesh signs the Energy Charter Treaty.

The Secretary said that consumers are the major stakeholder of energy sector.

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