power deal
Bangladesh seeks top international law firm for power deal review
The National Review Committee on the ministry of power, energy, and mineral resources on Sunday asked the interim government to hire a reputed legal and investigative firm to assist its review of major power generation contracts signed during Sheikh Hasina's autocratic rule between 2009 and 2024.
In a resolution, the committee, led by Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury, said it needs more time to do further analyses of other solicited and unsolicited contracts.
The committee is collecting evidence that may lead to potential renegotiation or cancellation of contracts in line with the international arbitration laws and proceedings, according to the Chief Adviser's press wing.
"To facilitate this, we recommend the immediate engagement of one or more top-quality international legal and investigative firms to assist our committee," the resolution says.
Read: SANEM studies explore Bangladesh’s pathway to sustainable energy transition
According to the resolution, the committee wants to ensure that its investigations are in line with international standards and will be acceptable in international negotiations and arbitration.
The committee is currently engaged in the detailed investigation of several contracts. They include:
Adani (Godda) BIFPCL 1234.4 megawatt coal fired power plantPayra 1320 MW coalMeghnaghat 335 MW dual fuelAshuganj 195 MW gasBashkhali 612 MW CoalMeghnaghat 583 MW dual fuel andMeghnaghat 584 MW gas/RLNG
4 weeks ago
BNP demands cancellation of power deal with Adani
Terming anti-state the government’s power deal with the Indian Adani Group, BNP on Thursday demanded immediate cancellation of the agreement.
“People of Bangladesh have already received a copy of the contract with Adani Group. This is an extremely uneven deal signed with an ulterior motive,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Speaking at a roundtable discussion, he said the question has now arisen in different countries of the world about how a government can ink such an agreement as the Washington Post exposed the Bangladesh government’s power agreement with the Adani group.
“This agreement with Adani is against the country and its people. I would like to say this deal must be repealed immediately. At the same time, the indemnity act for the power sector should be revoked,” he said.
Association of Engineers Bangladesh (AEB) arranged the programme titled “Catastrophe in the Power Sector: Economy in Deep Crisis” at a city hotel. AEB secretary general Engineer Hasin Ahmed delivered the key-note speech.
Fakhrul said the Awami League government could sign the deal with Adani as it has no compassion and responsibility for the people of Bangladesh. “This government has also no accountability to the people of Bangladesh. They steal money and siphon off it abroad to build houses, do business and live a life of luxury by cutting the pockets of our common people."
Read more: Power deal with Adani Group unnecessary, uneven: Fakhrul
He said the ruling party leaders are also plundering public money to use it during the next general election to ensure their victory as they did during the 2018 polls.
“They’ll again rig the election with money. They’ll give money to various institutions involved in conducting the election... envelopes containing money will go to all levels from the presiding officers to the police, BGB, and even those who will act as the striking force. This is true as it happened in 2018," the BNP leader said.
He said they have come to know that the government is making a new strategy to use the members of Ansar and VDP to rig votes in the next polls.
The BNP leader said the government has also been using a new strategy in the local body polls for ensuring the victory of the ruling party candidates by changing the results of different centers. “(Monirul Haque) Sakku of Cumilla is one of such victims”
Dr Zafrullah for repealing ‘anti-state’ power deal with Adani Group
1 year ago