The National Review Committee under the Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources has recommended appointing international investigation agencies to review agreements for seven major power plants initiated without tenders during the tenure of the previous Awami League government.
This recommendation was made on Sunday by the committee, chaired by retired Justice Moinul Islam Chowdhury, according to a statement shared by Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Mazumdar.
The seven power plants under review include the Adani (Godda) 1,234.4 MW coal-fired plant, the Payra 1,320 MW coal-fired plant, the Meghnaghat 335 MW dual-fuel plant, the Ashuganj 195 MW gas-based plant, the Bashkhali 612 MW coal-fired plant, and two other dual-fuel and gas-based plants in Meghnaghat with capacities of 583 MW and 584 MW respectively.
It is learnt that the proposal emphasized the necessity of appointing one or more internationally reputed legal and investigative agencies to assist in the comprehensive review of power production agreements signed between 2009 and 2024 under Sheikh Hasina’s leadership.
The committee requested additional time to analyze details of the procurement and non-procurement agreements for power purchases.
According to the committee statement, it is collecting evidence to facilitate renegotiation or cancellation of contracts under international arbitration laws.
It recommended immediate recruitment of top-tier international legal and investigative firms to expedite their work and ensure compliance with international standards.
The committee further assured that their investigation would be aligned with global benchmarks, making it suitable for arbitration proceedings.
Earlier, on October 12, the committee decided to gather information on all power plant agreements since the last 15 years.
Previously, on September 28, the committee resolved to collect data on 11 power plants, including those operated by Summit, United, and Adani.
These documents, provided by the Power Division, have helped the committee form a preliminary understanding.
It is noteworthy that during the tenure of the Awami League, the government enacted the Speedy Supply of Power and Energy (Special Provisions) Act, 2010 (amended in 2021), which granted immunity to decisions made under the law, effectively shielding them from judicial review.
