Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad on Sunday cautioned power, energy and mineral resources minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood to thoroughly assess all relevant factors before making commitments at Jatiya Sangsad.

The power and energy minister was cautioned after a previously announced deadline for gas supply to the Ashuganj Fertiliser Factory was missed.

The speaker’s remarks came during the 2nd session of the 13th JS following a supplementary question from independent lawmaker Rumeen Farhana, who reminded the minister of his pledge made during the first JS session that gas supply would be made to the factory by May 1.

Raising the issue, Rumeen Farhana said that more than a month had passed since the promised date, but the factory had yet to receive the supply.

She sought a specific timeline from the minister regarding when the plant would finally receive gas.

Responding to the question, Iqubal Hassan cited the country’s gas shortage and said that the government was currently prioritising gas supply to the power plants over fertiliser factories.

‘Gas has its limitations. We have to keep the power plants running and, for that reason, we have not been able to provide the connection there,’ the minister said.

He said that no drilling activities were undertaken during the previous 17 years and that the current government had initiated drilling operations.

Expressing optimism about new gas discoveries, he said that fertiliser factories such as Ashuganj would receive gas supply once domestic production improved.

Following the minister’s explanation, the speaker reminded him of his earlier commitment to parliament.

‘Honourable minister, you had said in parliament that gas would be supplied from the first of May. It appears that did not happen,’ the speaker said.

He urged ministers to exercise greater caution when making commitments in the House, saying, ‘any commitment made in parliament should be based on proper study of drilling activities and all other relevant matters.’