Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)– The Bangladesh government has declared August 9 as the National Energy Security Day to mark establishment of the country’s ownership on five gas fields in 1975.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the cabinet held at Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka on Monday with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Briefing reporters Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad said the cabinet unanimously approved the proposal of State Minister for Power Enamul Haque to observe August 9 as the National Energy Security Day.
Mr. Haque placed the documents relating to the decision of Bangabandhu to purchase five gas and oil fields – Titas, Bakhrabad, Habiganj, Rashidpur and Koilashtila on August 9, 1975. The oil and gas fields were bought from Shell at a nominal price of 4.5 million pound sterling equivalent to BDT 178.60 million.
These fields have produced about 73 percent of gas till the end of December 2009 since independence and are contributing 43 percent to the national grid.
BBN/SI/SSR/AD-09Aug10-8:42 pm (BST)
