EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT IN POWER SECTOR AND ITS IMPLICATION FOR NATIONAL SECURITY
Keywords:
EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT, NATIONAL SECURITYAbstract
Bangladesh inherited weak infrastructure of power generation and distribution. Instead of
improving the power generation situation, the sector has worsened due to inefficient leadership,
over-centralization, corruption and mismanagement at all levels. System loss in the sector is the
highest in the developing world. The coverage of electricity in the country is limited; only about one
third of the population has access to electricity, though the power requirement is increasing fast.
Generation of power cannot keep pace with requirement. Shortage of electricity and unreliable
power supply are costly. Frequent and prolonged load shedding causes huge losses to industrial
production and regularly disrupts economic activities. Efficient and affordable power supply is
essential for sustained economic growth. Households need reliable and reasonably priced electricity
to attain full socio-economic potential and achieve decent standards of living. Power is thus directly
linked to national development. The cumulative effect due to shortage of power can turn into
social violence posing a threat to national security. Now a day, security is more concerned with the
economy, fighting poverty and encouraging development in all spheres of national life especially for
developing countries like Bangladesh. The infrastructure in our country is not adequately geared to
providing optimum power in the coming years. Hence there is an urgent need to address this issue
at the national planning level before we fall into the trap.
Downloads
References
Books
Amartya Sen, Social Security in Developing Countries, Dhaka.
Asit K Biswas, Contemporary Issues in Development, Bangladesh.
Hasnat Abdul Hye, Governance - South Asian Perspective, Dhaka.
Moazzem Hossain, Bangladesh’s Development Agenda and Vision 2020,
Dhaka.
Mufleh R Osmany, Security in the Twenty First Century – A Bangladesh
Perspective, Dhaka.
Journals
Asian Development Bank Annual Report 2006.
Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies, Vol. 22, No. 1,
January 2001.
Bangladesh Power Development Board Annual Report 2003-2004.
Papers
Electric Power Crisis – Long Term Solutions by Dr Md Quamrul Ahsan,
Professor, BUET.
Seminar Paper on Energy Security for Bangladesh: The Need to Develop
other Sources of Energy.
Interviews
Engr Mustafizul Huq Choudhury, Director - Planning and System Engineering,
Rural Electrification Board, Dhaka, 10 August 2007.
Engr Nazrul Islam, Executive Engineer, Power Development Board, Dhaka,
August 2007.
General Manager, PBS, Noakhali, REB.
Md Ariful Hoque, Deputy Director, Board of Investment, Bangladesh.
Prof M Shamsul Huq, Director Pioneer Medical College, Dhaka on 17 August 2007.
Syed Mossaddeque Hossain, Director - Procurement, Rural Electrification
Board, Dhaka, 03 August 2007.
Internet Web Sites
http://expert-eyes. org/power/capacity.Rtml.
Archive of www.thedailystar.net.
Web site of Power Cell, Government of the Peoples’ Republic of
Bangladesh.