DHAKA: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced that if the BNP is elected to power, it will review all agreements in the power and energy sector made during the Awami League's regime. He cited massive corruption under the deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina's administration, asserting that necessary measures will be taken to address these issues.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the BNP held a press conference at their chairperson's Gulshan political office to present their analysis of alleged irregularities and corruption in the power and energy sectors over the past 15 years under the Awami League. BNP Standing Committee member and former state minister for power, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, presented a detailed written statement, with Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan also in attendance.
Mirza Fakhrul criticized the current government, claiming they have benefited from ongoing debates and controversies in the political arena, which he says distracts from their alleged corruption. Tuku further demanded transparency, calling for the disclosure of all power and energy sector agreements signed during Sheikh Hasina's tenure.
Tuku accused the Awami League of turning the power sector into a business venture, alleging that approximately Taka 1,00,000 crore was looted in capacity charges over the past 15 years. He detailed that public procurement rules were bypassed in the signing of power sector agreements, with capacity charges significantly increasing from Taka 1,507 crore in the 2008-09 fiscal year to Taka 17,155 crore in 2022-23.
The former state minister claimed that private sector power plants were largely ineffective and accused the government of looting public funds by awarding contracts to companies with faulty machinery. He identified Summit Group, Agro International, Ultra Power Holdings, United Group, and RPCL as major beneficiaries of capacity charges.
Tuku also criticized the continuation of quick rental power plants beyond their intended two-year tenure, stating that 75 percent of these investments were unreturned. He alleged that Taka 11,015 crore was paid in capacity charges for power imported from India over nine years.
He expressed concerns about the sustainability of developments in the power sector under the Awami League, predicting a potential collapse. On the Rooppur nuclear power project, Tuku accused Sheikh Hasina and her family of misappropriating $5 billion, while also noting ongoing investigations into further allegations against Tulip Siddiq, a British minister and relative of Hasina.
Tuku emphasized the necessity of transparency and accountability to prevent future corruption and called for increased public participation, stricter laws, and regular power inspections to ensure integrity in the power sector.