Review body asks BPDB to provide power plants' info

The national committee on reviewing power and energy sector deals has sought data on power plants that got approved under the 'controversial' special provision law.

The first meeting of the committee held on Monday asked for the information on the projects signed under the Quick Enhancement of Electricity and Energy Supply (Special Provision) Act 2010 (Amended 2021), meeting sources said.

The meeting asked officials concerned at the state-run Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) to make available the data at least 3-4 days before the next meeting, slated for September 28.

The committee is expected to set the next course of action after analysing the information.

The interim government constituted the five-member national committee, headed by retired Judge of High Court Division Moinul Islam Chowdhury, on September 5 to review the deals inked under the special law.

Other members of the committee are: Professor Abdul Hasib Chowdhury, Electrical and Electronics Department of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Ali Ashfaq FCA, former chief executive officer of KPMG Bangladesh, former lead economist of World Bank Dr Zahid Hossain and Professor Moshtaq Hossain Khan of the Faculty of Law & Social Science at the University of London.

As per the terms of reference (TOR), the committee will scrutinise whether the government interests were protected in the deals already inked under the special act.

The committee will be able to collect information from any sources deemed necessary, and will have the authority to call any individuals or institutions for hearing. The committee will place recommendations on the next course of actions.

The Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources (MPEMR) will provide secretarial services and extend necessary support to the committee.

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