Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, on Sunday cautioned Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood for his unfulfilled pledge made in the Parliament for resumption of gas supply to Ashuganj Fertiliser Factory by May 01 last.
He also suggested the minister make a promise in the House only after a proper study over all relevant issues.
The speaker made the suggestion during the second session of the 13th Parliament, following a supplementary question from independent lawmaker Rumeen Farhana (Brahmanbaria-2), who reminded the minister of his pledge made during the first session of the current parliament to ensure gas supply to the factory by May 1.
Raising the issue, Rumeen Farhana said more than a month had passed since the promised date, but the factory has yet to receive gas supply.
She sought a timeline from the minister regarding when the plant would finally receive gas.
Responding to the question, Iqbal Hassan said the government is currently prioritising gas supply to power plants over fertiliser factories due to gas shortage.
“We’ve gas crisis. We are to keep the power plants running. For this reason, we can’t provide gas connection (to the fertiliser factory). We’ll do it when the situation of gas (production) improves,” he said.
He said that no drilling activities (to extract gas from new fields) had been undertaken during the previous 17 years, but the current government started drilling operations for the first time.
Expressing optimism about new gas discoveries, he said fertiliser factories such as Ashuganj would receive gas supply once domestic production improves.
Following the minister's explanation, the Speaker reminded him of his earlier commitment made to Rumeen Farhana in the parliament.
‘Honourable minister, you had said in parliament that gas would be supplied from the first date (May 1). But the gas might not be supplied,’ he said.
“When you make a promise in the Parliament, you should do it after a study over drilling and all other relevant issues,” said Hafiz Uddin.