Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (October 19, 2022) said that the government has imposed austerity in some areas, but that does not mean people of Bangladesh will not get electricity.

"People are getting electricity and that will continue, but we all have to maintain austerity... we are maintaining austerity in some cases. We are compelled to do so under the circumstances," she said.

The Prime Minister said this while inaugurating the installation of a reactor pressure vessel at the second unit of the 2,400 MW Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP).

She joined the programme virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban while it was held at Ishwardi in Pabna.

The prime minister said the government's target was to provide electricity for all.

"We have kept our promise. We have been able to provide electricity to every house in Bangladesh. And we have succeeded in illuminating Bangladesh," she said.

In this connection, she said problems erupted due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.

"...Prices were hiked in every sphere, including transportation. As a result, developed countries are facing various problems. They have also focused on savings in every sphere of life. We are not lagging behind either.... The world is now a global village, and one is dependent on other. When the entire world is suffering from economic recession, we will have to endure that blow too," she observed.

"We have also initiated austerity measures," she said.

"That, however, does not mean people of the country will not get electricity."

She blamed the Russia-Ukraine war, followed by sanctions which created more problems.

Science and Technology Minister Yeafesh Osman, Director General of Russia's Rosatom State Corporation Alexey Likhachev and Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology Ziaul Hasan also spoke at the event.

A documentary on the 2,400 MW Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant was also screened at the programme.