The Berc has even failed to get a complete organisational shape over the period, as two members of the commission have not been appointed, the speakers said. The commission also lacks financial and other logistical supports, they added.

Consumers Association of Bangladesh (Cab) organised the discussion with media and civil society on energy regulation and consumers' rights and responsibility at Dhaka Reporters Unity auditorium in Dhaka.

Abdullah H Mostafa, chief of party of an USAID project for Regulatory Capacity Building in Bangladesh, made a presentation on the functions of the energy commission. USAID project has given technical assistance to the government for forming and strengthening the Berc.

Berc was established on March 13, 2003 through a legislative act and the chairman was appointed on June 4, 2005, Mostafa said adding that the two posts of commissioners are still vacant. However, he said a new member is supposed to join the commission today.

Political interference in the regulatory affairs not only exists in Bangladesh but also in other countries but the degree of interference varies, Mostafa mentioned.

Speaking at the discussion, Quazi Faruque, general secretary of Cab, said suffering of common people has intensified due to the mess in the power sector.

"Energy and power sector saw several changes at the ministerial level but things did not improve," he said, adding that it is very frustrating that Berc did not get a complete shape in spite of its formation in 2003.

Berc has become another ineffective commission in Bangladesh, he said. Consumers will be benefited a lot if Berc can exercise its power properly, the Cab secretary felt.

Chairing the meeting, Borhanuddin Ahmed, president of Cab and executive editor of the Janakantha, urged the government to take measures to make Berc effective.

Speaking at the discussion, Jason Czyz, deputy director of National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) of USAID, said politicians around the world are ill-equipped to handle energy-related issues and that's why 80 per cent of the nations across the globe formed regulatory commissions.