Power Ministry Burdened with Tk 56,000 Crore Debt, Says Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku

Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku has said that the power sector inherited outstanding liabilities amounting to Tk 56,000 crore during the tenure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

“We are running the Power Ministry with a debt burden of Tk 56,000 crore. Domestic and foreign creditors call us regularly. Even Adani calls for bill payments, and we have to arrange those funds,” the minister said.

He made the remarks on Tuesday while addressing an exchange meeting with primary, secondary, and higher secondary educational institutions aimed at improving the quality of education. The event was held at the Shaheed Shamsuddin Conference Hall of the Sirajganj Deputy Commissioner’s Office in Sirajganj.

The minister said that a nation can progress only through education. “After coming to power this time, we have decided to allocate nearly 5 percent of the GDP to the education sector,” he added.

Tuku also recalled that former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia had introduced the “Food for Education” programme to reduce student dropout rates, which he said had produced positive results.

The meeting was chaired by Sirajganj Deputy Commissioner Md. Aminul Islam. Among others present were Sirajganj District BNP General Secretary Saidur Rahman Bacchu, Additional Superintendent of Police (Sadar Circle) Nazran Rauf, and heads of various educational institutions.