Consumers Association of Bangladesh demands regulatory reform and end to waste in power and energy sector

The Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) has demanded an immediate overhaul of the power and energy sector, calling for the elimination of inefficiency, corruption, and unreasonable expenditures to ensure affordable utility prices for the public. The organization asserted that instead of frequent tariff hikes, authorities should focus on curbing systemic waste and financial irregularities to reduce costs for consumers.

The demands were issued during a demonstration held Sunday morning in front of the International Mother Language Institute in Dhaka. The protest coincided with a public hearing organized by the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) regarding tariff proposals for commercial power plants based on renewable energy.

Mohiuddin Ahmed, convener of Bangladesh Nagorik Somaj, criticized the BERC for consistently prioritizing the interests of the government and private companies over those of the public. He argued that the current commission has failed to act effectively and called for its removal, labeling it a growing public demand.

Alamgir Hossain, general secretary of the Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), stated that government institutions have shifted their focus toward profit-maximization rather than public welfare. He expressed concern that the current trend of placing the burden of costs on the public through gas and electricity pricing could be replicated in the renewable energy sector, rendering it ineffective for citizens.

Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) General Secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince alleged that repeated calls to make the BERC consumer-friendly have been ignored. He questioned why institutions funded by taxpayer money have become protectors of profit-seeking entities, warning that continued inaction would force the public back to the streets in protest.

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Aritro Roddur Dhar, a member of the CAB Youth Parliament and a student at the University of Dhaka, pointed to the imposition of “capacity charges” as a primary example of corruption. He demanded structural reforms to the BERC Act to enhance the commission’s transparency and operational capacity, noting that the regulator fails to conduct meaningful public hearings regarding electricity price reductions.

The CAB presented a 10-point demand, which includes structural reform of the BERC Act, setting benchmark tariffs for all renewable energy through public hearings, and granting consumers the legal standing to file cases against energy-related malpractice. The organization also demanded the end of privatization in the power sector, the elimination of profit-oriented service models, the cessation of unjust expenses, and the prosecution of those involved in energy-related financial crimes.

CAB General Secretary Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan concluded by emphasizing that consumer interests must be the priority in all investment and tariff-setting processes within the renewable energy sector. He urged the BERC to act in the public interest to ensure the energy sector is purged of exploitation.