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May 5, 2025, Dhaka: Muhammad Rafiqul Islam, Chairman of the Dhaka Electric Supply Company (DESCO) Board, has urged everyone to play a proactive role in conserving electricity.
He made this appeal during an exchange of views titled “Efficient Use of Electricity” held at the Nikunja Convention Hall on Monday, May 5, with representatives from universities and other educational institutions under DESCO’s jurisdiction.
Addressing the gathering, Rafiqul Islam highlighted two primary reasons for engaging educational institutions in this initiative. “Firstly, universities and educational institutions are significant consumers of electricity. Secondly, if teachers can dedicate just two minutes to discussing energy conservation with students, inspired by today’s dialogue, they can instill this mindset in the younger generation. When these students enter the workforce and take on leadership roles, they will naturally adopt energy-saving practices in their lives,” he said.
He further emphasized the financial strain on the energy sector, noting that the government provides a subsidy of BDT 5 per unit of electricity. “Due to past irregularities, the power and energy sector is facing a severe financial crisis. The government is burdened with substantial subsidies for power generation. We must break free from this cycle by reducing subsidies, which requires all of us to use electricity more efficiently,” Rafiqul added.
The event was chaired by DESCO’s Managing Director, Brigadier General Shamim Ahmed, who stressed the importance of collective responsibility. “Your efficient use of electricity can help meet someone else’s needs. We will ensure the implementation of the suggestions provided by the attendees,” he assured.
Professor Mostafizur Rahman, Vice-Chancellor of Northern University, underscored the need for ethical responsibility, stating, “We must use our conscience and ethics to conserve electricity.”
Professor Sirajul Karim Chowdhury, Dean of BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology, suggested simplifying public awareness about electricity usage. “We need to address confusion around electricity consumption in a straightforward manner. Introducing automation technology, such as switches that turn off automatically after a set time, can also be effective,” he proposed.
AI/MR
