DHAKA: A assessment committee shaped by Bangladesh’s interim authorities on Sunday advisable partaking an investigation company to look at energy agreements signed by deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s regime with totally different enterprise teams, together with one with India’s Adani Group. “The Nationwide Overview Committee on Ministry of Energy, Vitality and Mineral Assets has advisable the appointment of a reputed authorized and investigation company to assessment the key energy manufacturing agreements signed through the autocratic regime of Sheikh Hasina from 2009 to 2024,” an official assertion mentioned.
The assertion, issued by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus’s workplace, mentioned the committee was at present reviewing seven main power and energy initiatives, together with the Adani (Godda) BIFPCL 1234.four MW coal-fired plant, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Adani Energy Restricted. The six different agreements embody one with a Chinese language firm that constructed a 1320 MW coal-fired energy plant, whereas the remainder are with Bangladeshi enterprise teams mentioned to be near the previous regime.
In accordance with the assertion, the committee gathered “huge proof” warranting the agreements be “scrapped or reconsidered” in step with worldwide arbitration legal guidelines and procedures. It mentioned the committee wanted extra time to additional analyse different solicited and unsolicited contracts. “In doing so, we advocate rapid appointment of a number of top-level worldwide authorized and investigation company or companies to help the committee,” the assertion mentioned quoting a letter of the committee, headed by retired Excessive Courtroom choose Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury.
India’s Exterior Affairs Ministry had earlier mentioned that cooperation within the energy and power sector has turn into one of many essential pillars of India-Bangladesh relations. The Adani Group, nevertheless, just lately despatched a letter to the Bangladesh authorities over its unpaid USD 800 million energy provide invoice whereas Bangladesh’s state-run Energy Improvement Board mentioned that they had already paid USD 150 million regardless of its greenback disaster and was anticipating to pay the total quantity.
Adani’s Godda thermal plant was arrange completely to produce energy to Bangladesh however India just lately modified a legislation permitting the Indian firm to promote the Godda energy within the home market sparking hypothesis if Bangladesh would get devoted energy provide from the plant.
The interim authorities had earlier shaped a committee to look at contracts made beneath the Fast Enhancement of Electrical energy and Vitality Provide (Particular Provisions) Act, 2010 (Amended 2021). The committee was tasked to analyze any allegations of corruption associated to the nation’s electrical energy and power manufacturing and provide companies.
