A national-level public dialogue titled ‘Dialogue with NGOs: Introduction of Energy Charter Treaty (ECT)’ was held on 04 August 2022, at the National Press Club, Dhaka. CAB President Mr. Ghulam Rahman was joined in the event online while Senior Vice President and Energy Adviser of CAB Prof. Dr. M Shamsul Alam and Professor Dr. Mohammad Tanzimuddin Khan were present as Key Note Speakers. General Secretary of CAB Advocate Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan also attended the event as a special guest. The objective of the event was to share the issues of the ECT and its implication in the context of Bangladesh with CSOs, NGOs, policymakers, journalists and other relevant stakeholders. At the event, Professor Mohammad Tanzimuddin Khan delivered a keynote presentation on the issues of ECT. In his presentation, he informed that it is an international agreement known as the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT). A major objective of the law is to protect foreign investors’ interests in the energy sector. The Bangladeshi government is in the process of signing this agreement. The energy conversion policy proposed by CAB will become more difficult to implement if Bangladesh signs this agreement.
There will be a violation of universal human rights, including the rights of consumers to energy. The ownership of energy by consumers will be narrowed. As a result, it is essential to raise public awareness, build public opinion, and build a social movement to defend the rights of consumers.
Professor Dr. M. Shamsul Alam (Energy expertise and Vice President of CAB) mentioned that inefficiency, corruption, opacity, and unfairness in the energy sector had increased predatory spending in the sector. As a result of this, the price of fuel has increased unreasonably, and our capacity in the fuel sector is decreasing day by day. Today in the energy sector, we cannot make our policies or plan anything ourselves.
In the meantime, if agreements like the Energy Charter Treaty are implemented, our capacity under the state structure will be in a deeper crisis. In the past, we have seen the interests of multinational companies like Nikko and Occidental above the national interest. We once blocked gas export through agitation. Today there is an energy crisis in the country. If there was an opportunity to export, the country would be flooded with gas and coal. It can be said that there has been unplanned development in the power sector. Consumers are paying the price. If we do not raise our collective voice on the path of energy transformation, the energy rights of consumers under agreements like energy certificate agreements will be violated.
In the meantime, if agreements like the Energy Charter Treaty are implemented, our capacity under the state structure will be in a deeper crisis. In the past, we have seen the interests of multinational companies like Nikko and Occidental above the national interest. We once blocked gas export through agitation. Today there is an energy crisis in the country. If there was an opportunity to export, the country would be flooded with gas and coal. It can be said that there has been unplanned development in the power sector. Consumers are paying the price. If we do not raise our collective voice on the path of energy transformation, the energy rights of consumers under agreements like energy certificate agreements will be violated.
The energy security of the country will be in deep crisis. That is why everyone’s opinion and participation are very important in implementing the proposed energy conversion policy of CAB.
In the dialogue, representatives from NGOs provided their comments, suggestions, and desires.
There were two proposals suggested by the participant:
01. There is the possibility of a mass signature campaign.
02. There is the possibility of conducting international campaigns.
A total of 116 participants attended the event, of which 69 journalists [18 journalists in print media, 16 journalists in electronic media, 15 journalists in online media], 20 representatives from NGOs, 02 speakers, 05 Action Aid Bangladesh representatives, 06 CAB representatives, 05 government representatives were also present (from SB and NSI). The number of male participants was 108, and the number of female participants was 8. The event was covered by three print media, one electronic media, and three online news portals. The event news was published on the online multimedia platform of CAB ‘Voktakantho’ facebook website and also the event was live on Voktakantho’s Facebook page.