Speaker Tells Minister to Study Before Making Any Pledges in Parliament
Collected Photo
Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad has warned the Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Iqbal Hassan Mahmood, for failing to keep a commitment made in the national parliament.
The Speaker advised the minister to conduct a thorough study or review before making any promises in parliament.
The remark came during Sunday's parliamentary session (June 7) following a supplementary question from Member of Parliament Barrister Rumeen Farhana regarding gas supply to the Ashuganj Fertilizer Factory.
During the session, Rumeen Farhana reminded the minister of his earlier promise.
"Standing in this honorable parliament, you promised me that gas connection would be provided to Ashuganj Fertilizer by the first of May. More than a month and three to four days have passed, but we still have not received gas supply to Ashuganj Fertilizer," she said with visible frustration.
The lawmaker then asked for a specific timeline on when the factory would receive gas.
In response, Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud cited the country's gas limitations.
He said power plants are currently being given priority over fertilizer factories in gas supply. "You want electricity, and you also want gas for your fertilizer factory. There is a limitation on gas. That is why we have to keep our power plants running, and for that reason, we cannot provide the connection to your factory," he said.
He added, "No drilling was done in the last 17 years. We have started drilling for the first time. I hope we will find gas. Once we get gas, we will be able to provide connections to factories like Ashuganj Fertilizer."
