Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan (Bengali: মুহাম্মদ ফাওজুল কবির খান) is a Bangladeshi economist and retired civil servant.[2] He has been serving as adviser for the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, Ministry of Railways, and Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources of the interim government of Bangladesh since 16 August 2024.[3][4]
Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan | |
|---|---|
| মুহাম্মদ ফাওজুল কবির খান | |
| Adviser for Road Transport and Bridges | |
| Assumed office 16 August 2024 | |
| Chief Adviser | Muhammad Yunus |
| Preceded by | Obaidul Quader (as Minister) |
| Adviser for Railways | |
| Assumed office 16 August 2024 | |
| Chief Adviser | Muhammad Yunus |
| Preceded by | Zillul Hakim (as Minister) |
| Adviser for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources | |
| Assumed office 16 August 2024 | |
| Chief Adviser | Muhammad Yunus |
| Preceded by | Nasrul Hamid (as Minister of State) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Sandwip, Chittagong District, East Pakistan[1] |
| Nationality | Bangladeshi |
| Alma mater | University of Dhaka Boston University |
Early life and education
editKhan was born in Harispur Union in the island of Sandwip, under Chittagong District of East Pakistan. He completed his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from University of Dhaka in 1976. He earned his Master of Arts in Economic Policy and Doctorate in Economics from Boston University in 1987 and 1989 respectively.[5][6]
Career
editKhan joined the Bangladesh Civil Service in 1979. He was a faculty of the department of Economics at National University of Singapore from 1992 to 1995.[7] He was the first CEO of the Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL) and served from 1998 to 2007. He served as Secretary of the Power Division of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources from 2007 to 2009 and retired from government service that year.[8] He is a Professor of the School of Business & Economics at United International University.[6] He is currently an advisor to the interim government of Bangladesh led by Muhammad Yunus and in-charge of 3 ministries.[9]
Controversy
editCorrupted Geas Uddin Joarder was appointed Member by Advisor Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan: On 26 November 2024, well known corrupted Geas Uddin Joarder was appointed member by an office order from an advisor of Interim government Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan. There were allegations of corruption against him in Anti Corruption Commission. Anti Corruption Commission is doing enquiry of the corruption case of Geas Uddin Joarder. He was newly appointed member of Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission, Geas Uddin Joarder has resigned against the backdrop of Al Jazeera Investigates reports on his alleged involvement in corruption. [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]
Advisor has Interest in expensive solar power, objection from BPDB: The PDB officials opposed the approval of solar power plants in the meeting and said that in the last financial year, the cost of energy in coal-based power plants in the private sector was an average of 5 taka 97 paisa and an average of 2 taka 62 paisa in gas plants. And including capacity charge and O&M cost, the cost of power generation in gas-based plants was on an average 6 taka 16 paisa and in coal-based power plants 12 taka 44 paisa. But the average cost of solar power is 16 taka 58 paisa. The dollar crisis is disrupting gas imports. As a result, more than half of the capacity of gas-based centers is sitting. Besides, coal-based plants are often unable to run at full capacity due to disruption of coal imports. If the new solar power plant is approved, its bill will have to be paid in dollars. As a result, the pressure on the dollar will not decrease. Because of solar power, another power plant of 1000 megawatts per day has to be installed. However, solar power will not be available during evening and night peak hours. So beige load centers must be run from evening. As a result, solar power will not actually save costs. PDB officials do not agree with the advisor. They said that various financial irregularities have always occurred in approving new power plants. To protect private interests, the previous government issued licenses to power plants one after the other without considering the demand. On a cost basis, the cost per kilowatt of solar power is 8.7 cents. But the license is given at 11 to 16 cents. To stop such financially opaque transactions, licensing of unnecessary power plants should be stopped. [16]
Books
editReferences
edit- ^ "উপদেষ্টা হচ্ছেন চট্টগ্রামের ফাওজুল কবির খান". দৈনিক আজাদী. 16 August 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
- ^ Zakaria, A. K. M. (2022-10-23). "'Power crisis was inevitable due to wrong policies'". Prothomalo. Retrieved 2024-08-15.
- ^ "Four more advisors take oaths of office". bdnews24.com. 16 August 2024.
- ^ Report, Star Digital (16 August 2024). "Four more advisers to interim government sworn in". The Daily Star.
- ^ Pratik (2024-08-16). "উপদেষ্টা হচ্ছেন চট্টগ্রামের ফাওজুল কবির খান". দৈনিক আজাদী. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
- ^ a b "Dr. M. Fouzul Kabir Khan". UIU - School of Business and Economics. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
- ^ "উপদেষ্টা মুহাম্মদ ফাওজুল কবির খান". বিদ্যুৎ, জ্বালানি ও খনিজ সম্পদ মন্ত্রণালয়. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
- ^ Quadir, Serajul Islam (February 13, 2008). "Bangladesh picks Indian firm to build power plant". Reuters.
- ^ Report, star Digital (2024-08-15). "Three more invited to take oath as advisers". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2024-08-15.
- ^ https://dailysobujbangladesh.com/ডিপিডিসি-জোয়ার্দার-এখন/
- ^ https://www.amarbarta.com.bd/print-edition/2044
- ^ https://sokalersongbad.com/archives/29036
- ^ https://www.thedailystar.net/environment/natural-resources/energy/news/newly-appointed-berc-member-gias-uddin-resigns-3765216
- ^ https://www.newagebd.net/post/country/251623/newly-appointed-berc-member-gias-uddin-quits
- ^ https://unb.com.bd/category/Bangladesh/newly-appointed-berc-member-gias-uddin-resigns/148046
- ^ https://sharebiz.net/ব্যয়বহুল-সোলারে-আগ্রহ-ব/
- ^ Khan, M. Fouzul Kabir; Parra, Robert J. (2003). Financing Large Projects: Using Project Finance Techniques and Practices. Pearson/Prentice Hall. ISBN 978-0-13-101634-7.
- ^ Khan, M. Fouzul Kabir (2021). Win: How Public Entrepreneurship Can Transform the Developing World. ISBN 979-8-7226-8300-7.
- ^ Khan, M. Fouzul Kabir (1989). Investment Incentives and Tobin's "Q": Experience in the Ready-made Garment Industry in Bangladesh. Boston University.