Energy Security Day today
BSS, Dhaka :The National Energy Security Day-2014 will be observed today commemorating the historic decision taken by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on this day in 1975. President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave separate messages on the eve of the day.In his message, President Abdul Hamid said, “Following the footprint of Bangabandhu, Awami League government always gives priority to energy security of the country. And this in view, the government is implementing various short, mid and long term plans”. The President said the government has also taken initiatives to fulfill the energy demand of the country by increasing domestic production and importing fuel from abroad. Apart from this, the government has adopted a good number of short and long term programmes for electricity production, he added.In the message, Abdul Hamid recalled the historic role of Bangabandhu in ensuring energy security of the country saying, “Bagabandhu bought five gas fields from the then Shell Oil Company for the state on August 9 in 1975.” In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said following the instance of Bangabandhu, the Awami League government always gives priority to the energy security of the country.”We have implemented huge short, mid and long term programmes in the energy sector in the last five years,” said the Prime Minister.Sheikh Hasina said the production and supply of the natural gas in the country has been increased by drilling and exploring new gas fields. The Prime Minister said in January 2009 the daily production of natural gas was only 1,744 million cubic feet and the same has been increased to 2,324 million cubic feet at the moment. The people have started reaping the benefit of the increased gas production, she mentioned. Narrating the prospect of exploring energy from the bed of the Bay of Bengal, the Prime Minister said, “We have established our right over the Bay of Bengal and we are firm to ensure the energy security of the country by exploiting our potentiality in the Bay of Bengal.”