Nasrul critical of energy officials’ liking for foreign tours
Interestingly, the Energy Division often struggles to get enough participants for workshops held in the country
Officials of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division are in love with short training courses abroad although the ministry boss does not think these trainings improve their skills.
“Sixty percent of the files that I sign daily are foreign tour related,” said State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid.
“Officials of the Energy Division are highly interested in short courses [abroad] although these short courses do not enhance their skills,” he said at a seminar in the capital on Friday.
Interestingly, the Energy Division often struggles to get enough participants for workshops held in the country.
Expressing annoyance to such fascination for foreign tours, Nasrul Hamid said, “Whenever a group goes abroad for training, I ask them to give a presentation once they come back. But I have not received a single presentation so far.”
Echoing the minister, Energy and Mineral Division’s Secretary Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem said: “No one wants to participate in the local workshops; I do not know what makes the programmes aboard so sweet.”
Recalling the contribution of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to the Energy Division, Nasrul said: “Father of the Nation showed us what leadership actually is. The five gas fields he bought from the British Shell Well company are still providing a large amount of gas to the national grid.”
Urging Petrobangla and Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) to skill up their manpower, the state minister said the Power Division has been working to enhance skills of the employees for coal-based power plants.
“Likewise, the Energy Division should put forward training schemes as it has taken up some mega projects scheduled to be completed soon.”
BPC Chairman Md Shamsur Rahman claimed that Bangladesh is one of the most energy efficient countries in the world.
“We are steady in energy supply to people even with a subsidised price. Our supply was comparatively cheap when energy price was high worldwide,” he said.
Md Shahiduzzaman Sarker, president of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, spoke as the special guest on the occasion.
Petrobangla organised the event to mark the National Energy Security Day 2019.
