The next elected government will determine the course of action regarding the 1,600MW Adani Jharkhand Power Plant, which has been flagged for corruption by the National Review Committee (NRC), said Dr Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, Adviser on Power and Energy.
Speaking to journalists after a review meeting on the draft Energy and Power Sector Master Plan 2026 at Biddut Bhaban on Sunday, Dr Khan said scrapping any international agreement is not feasible due to the risk of significant liquidated damages claims.
“We are addressing corruption issues in the power sector and have established an NRC following international standards. The committee has provided specific evidence,” he said. “The next elected government will take further action on this matter.”
Bangladesh has been paying an additional 4–5 US cents per kilowatt-hour for electricity supplied by India’s Adani Power, costing the country an estimated $400 million–$500 million a year under what a government-appointed review committee has described as an “unfair” power purchase agreement (PPA).
According to the committee, the excess payments could amount to nearly $10 billion over the 25-year term of the contract for the 1,496-megawatt coal-fired plant built by Adani in Godda, in India’s Jharkhand state.
Dr Khan added that the government is working to improve the country’s power and energy supply. “Only time will tell whether our efforts are successful,” he said.
Responding to a question on why alleged culprits in the power and energy sector have not been prosecuted, he said, “It is not our responsibility to ensure punishment. The Anti-Corruption Commission handles prosecutions; our role is to provide them with the necessary documentation.”
The adviser also noted that the ministry had renegotiated tariffs for publicly owned power plants. “We hope the next government will renegotiate tariffs with foreign-backed and private power producers as well, since time constraints limited our ability to make financial decisions regarding these companies,” he said.
On the issue of payments to local companies, Dr Khan stated that the interim government made around $220 million in payments to LNG and foreign gas suppliers six months ago to ensure uninterrupted supply, saving an estimated $50–60 million in compensation for late payments. He added that some LNG imports were later acquired at higher prices due to outstanding arrears.
Dr Khan acknowledged the challenges faced by the interim government in addressing corruption within the power and energy sector, which has led to public frustration over complex decisions. He also expressed regret over not being able to fully resolve the power and energy crisis during the government’s one-and-a-half-year tenure.