Nine power and energy institutions running with acting chiefs

The country is struggling with a severe energy crisis. There is an acute shortage of gas everywhere, from households to industries. The power situation is also fragile. Even at such a critical time, nine key institutions in the power and energy sector are operating without permanent leadership. Instead of having permanent and visionary leadership, these institutions are being run by officials on temporary assignment. Bureaucrats have been placed in the top positions. Some have been given additional charge, while others are serving in acting roles. The entire sector has become stagnant under this makeshift leadership.

Experts say officials serving on additional or acting charge have limited administrative and legal authority to make policy decisions or long term strategic decisions. Since they do not hold permanent appointments, temporary officials are often unwilling to take risks by signing major files or making important policy decisions. In addition, officials serving in additional roles must manage both their primary responsibilities and their extra duties, naturally reducing their overall effectiveness.

An investigation found that at least nine key institutions in the power and energy sector, including the Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation (Petrobangla), currently have vacant chief positions. These institutions are being run through temporary arrangements with borrowed officials. Most of the top posts are being handled by government additional secretaries on additional charge. This has created administrative complications and is also hindering the development of the energy sector.

Officials said that throughout most of the tenure of the interim government, the power and energy sector remained largely stagnant. Apart from routine activities, little progress was made in this important sector. Decision making remained stalled due to indecision and lengthy delays. Although some momentum has returned after the current government assumed office, a new crisis has emerged because permanent appointments have not been made to the top positions of key institutions. The situation has become even more unstable because of the short sighted decisions of the ousted Awami League government and the impact of the Middle East war.

Petrobangla is one of the most important institutions in the energy sector. It is responsible for the exploration, development, and marketing of the country’s oil, gas, and mineral resources. The corporation oversees 13 subsidiary organizations. After serving only three months as chairman, Erfanul Haque was removed in May, and Additional Secretary Md. Abdul Mannan was given the position on additional charge.

A Petrobangla official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Agamir Somoy, “The country is currently facing a severe energy crisis. Its impact is being felt in households, industries, and even the electricity sector. In such a situation, an institution like Petrobangla urgently needs a permanent chairman. The government has also taken initiatives to strengthen gas exploration both onshore and offshore. The chairman has a major role in implementing these initiatives. But because the position is being handled by an additional secretary on additional charge, almost all activities have become stagnant. Even routine work sometimes takes a week instead of a single day.”

Another official said Petrobangla’s chairman is expected to work from morning until night. However, because Abdul Mannan is serving on additional charge, he spends most of his time at the Secretariat performing his responsibilities for the Energy and Mineral Resources Division. As a result, many official activities are facing serious disruption, and several important decisions remain pending.

Another Petrobangla official said that when the chairman serves on a regular basis, work progresses more efficiently. Various decisions are implemented quickly, and initiatives are taken to advance the development of the energy sector.

Many officials have objections regarding their annual confidential reports. These matters are normally resolved through hearings conducted in the chairman’s presence. However, Petrobangla officials said this process has remained suspended for nearly six months.

West Zone Power Distribution Company Limited (WZPDCL) is responsible for electricity distribution in 21 districts, including Khulna, Barishal, and Faridpur, excluding areas under the Rural Electrification Board. Sheikh Zakiruzzaman was appointed managing director on August 28 last year for a three year term. However, his contract was canceled after only eight months. The position was then given on additional charge to Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) Member Md. A. Bachid. He served in the role for only about a week before another BPDB member, A N M Obaidullah was given the position on additional charge.

Several WZPDCL officials said the company’s headquarters are in Khulna, where the managing director is expected to remain almost full time. However, Obaidullah spends most of his time in Dhaka because he is also responsible for company affairs at the BPDB. As a result, official work at WZPDCL is being severely disrupted, and many important decisions are frequently delayed.

Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited (DPDC), which supplies electricity to parts of Dhaka and Narayanganj, has not had a permanent managing director for the past 16 months. Officials from the Power Division have been serving on additional charge.

Engineer Abdullah Noman resigned as managing director on March 23 last year before completing his term. The following day, March 24, Additional Secretary Nur Ahmad of the Power Division was given the position on additional charge. On May 6, he was replaced by another additional secretary, Habibun Nahar, who is now serving as managing director on additional charge.

The post of Director General of the Hydrocarbon Unit is also being held on additional charge by Joint Secretary Md. Sabed Ali. The institution is responsible for determining and updating the country’s oil and gas reserves and potential resources, maintaining updated energy databases, providing opinions on production sharing contracts and joint venture agreements, and monitoring and analyzing domestic and regional energy markets.

Bangladesh Power Management Institute (BPMI) conducts professional training for government and private sector engineers and employees in the power sector, carries out research activities, and organizes seminars and other important programs. The institution, which operates under the Power Division, has had its rector position vacant for the past 10 months. Since last September, Additional Secretary Md. Sabur Hossain has been serving on additional charge.

From the member directing staff to the directors, the institute’s remaining seven officials are also serving on additional charge. They have been brought in from other institutions under the Power Division, and the organization is functioning through temporary arrangements.

When asked, Sabur Hossain told Agamir Somoy, “It is better for the institution if these positions are filled by regular or permanent officials. The recruitment process for the rector and other positions has begun. Hopefully, permanent appointments will be made soon.”

A BPMI official said, “Serving on additional charge is also difficult and burdensome for us. Permanent appointments would provide much greater opportunities to work.”

The Geological Survey of Bangladesh, which is responsible for mineral exploration, mapping, research, and resource management, also has an additional secretary, Md. Rafiqul Alam, serving as director general on additional charge.

Three Officials Serving in Acting Charge: Engineer Md. Imam Uddin Sheikh has been serving as acting managing director of Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Company Limited for more than one year.

SM Tarikul Islam has also been serving as acting managing director of Paschimanchal Gas Company Limited, which distributes gas in the Rajshahi and Rangpur regions, for nearly six months. Similarly, Chowdhury Md. Ziaul Hasan is serving as acting managing director of Petroleum Transmission Company PLC.

According to Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Energy Adviser Professor Dr. M. Shamsul Alam, the situation has arisen because of a lack of accountability. He told Agamir Somoy, “Power and energy is a highly technical sector. Those who lead it must have technical knowledge. There are established criteria for this. But they (bureaucrats) can do everything. Because if nothing actually needs to be done, then all government offices are the same. Today someone is in the Ministry of Religious Affairs, tomorrow the same person is working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. That itself proves they actually do not do any work. They are not accountable anywhere.”

Shamsul Alam also warned that this lack of accountability is bringing serious consequences to the power and energy sector.