Tawfiq refutes bribe allegation

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FE Report
Prime minister's energy adviser Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury Sunday refuted the allegation against him and the PM's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy of receiving US $5 million as bribe from Chevron, a US oil and gas company.
Speaking at a press conference at the secretariat the adviser said: "I challenge the report."
"The issue would be taken to court," he added.
A vernacular national daily in its December 17 issue published a news itemalleging that energy adviser and PM's son received $5 million as bribe.
"The report is 'baseless' and 'motivated' and tantamount to tarnishing the image of the persons concerned," he alleged.
At the press conference, organised to brief journalists on return of the government delegation from London road show, Dr Elahi said foreign companies have shown keen interest in the country's US$ 5.0 billion future energy projects.
"They were willing to get involved with the energy projects that we exposed at the road show," power secretary Md Abul Kalam Azad said.
At the London road show last week the government unveiled a plan to build power plants and construct a liquefied natural gas terminal.
Some 78 foreign firms, including those from United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Sweden, the Netherlands and Monaco, took part in the London road show held on December 15 and around 30 of them had one-to-one discussions with the government representatives on the energy projects.
Rolls Royce, Enpower Corporation, Globeleq, AES, Vopak LNG, GCM Resources, Watson Gough, SBM Offshore, Mij International, Brummer & Partners, CDC Group, Seamark Group, EIC, RJI Capital, Centrax, Societe General and BNP Paribas were among the participating foreign firms in the road show.
"Our main target was to entice the foreign firms to spontaneously take part in the country's future energy projects," said the power secretary adding, "We are optimistic that many of them will do."
The Bangladesh team responded to the queries of the foreign companies during the road show organised to highlight country's future energy projects worth $5.0 billion.
A total of 11 energy projects including Bibiyana 300-450 megawatt (MW) second unit, Meghnaghat 300-450 MW dual fuel unit, Bhola 150-225 MW second unit, Savar peaking and Kaliakoir peaking plants each 100 MW and imported coal-based steam plant of 2000-2600 MW.
A liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal project having the handling capacity of 3.5 million tonnes a year and four renewable energy projects to generate 110 MW of electricity were up for grabs at the show.
"The foreign firms have enquired about a wide range of issues including investment climate, money repatriation facilities, currency convertibility, legal framework and the government vision on future projects," said Power Development Board chairman ASM Alamgir Kabir.
Some foreign companies sought easing of pre-qualification criteria in tender documents so that they could take part in the forthcoming bidding, said the PDB chairman who also took part at the London road show.
Board of Investment (BoI) executive chairman S A Samad, State Minister for Power and Energy Muhammad Enamul Huq, Petrobangla chairman Dr Hossain Monsur, Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation chairman Anwarul Karim, Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission chairman, law secretary and deputy governor of Bangladesh Bank also took part in the road show.
The second leg of the road show would be held in Singapore on January 25 and 26 and in New York on January 27 and 28.