Public notice seeking information on corruption in the power and energy sector
October 3, 20242 Mins Read

Jumbangla Desk: The National Committee formed to review the contracts made under the Faster Supply of Electricity and Energy Act during the previous Sheikh Hasina government has issued a public notice asking people for information on corruption. It was issued by the Ministry of Power and Energy today Thursday (September 3).

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According to the public notification, any person can send any information and evidence related to the corruption of the power and energy sector organizations of the contracted country to the committee under the said law. Complaints can be submitted to the National Review Committee by emailing nationalreviewcommittee@gmail.com between tomorrow (Friday) and October 31 . However, if the committee deems it necessary, it will later contact the complainant and the accused person or his institution or organization.

Besides, the National Committee will collect necessary information by communicating separately with the institutions and organizations conducting various activities under that agreement. In 2010, the Awami League government passed the 'Prompt Increase in Supply of Electricity and Fuel (Special Provisions) Act' for two years. Later, the term of that law was extended to 14 years in three phases. According to the Act, the legality of any measure, order or directive taken in connection with the import of fuel for electricity or the establishment of power plants or any other activity in the electricity and energy sector shall not be questioned in any court. That's why critics call this law the 'Immunity Act' of the power sector.

It is alleged that huge irregularities and corruption have taken place during the Awami League government by taking advantage of this law. According to Muhammad Fawzul Kabir Khan, Advisor on Power, Energy and Mineral Resources to the interim government, there was a 'festival of irregularities' in the energy and power sector during the previous government. On September 5, the power department constituted a five-member national committee to review the contracts awarded under the Act on Rapid Increase in Supply of Power and Energy.

Retired High Court judge Moinul Islam Chowdhury is the convener of this committee. Also as members are Professor Abdul Haseeb Chowdhury of Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering of BUET, Former COO of KPMG Bangladesh Ali Ashfaq, Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA), former Lead Economist of World Bank Zahid Hossain and Professor (Economics) of Faculty of Law and Social Sciences of University of London. Mushtaq Hossain Khan.

This committee can collect information from any source and inspect any document necessary for its work, can call any person or institution concerned for hearing. The committee will examine whether the interests of the government have been preserved in the contracts already executed under the 'Prompt Enhancement of Supply of Electricity and Energy (Special Provisions) Act, 2010'. The notification also informed that the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources will provide secretarial and ancillary support to the committee on the basis of the audit and make recommendations for the next course of action.