Staff Reporter :
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has alleged that corruption and embezzlement under the past Awami League government are being overshadowed by ongoing political debates.
“The theft and plundering by the Awami League is being overshadowed by political debates, allowing them to benefit from the situation. People are forgetting how the Awami League has destroyed the country and hollowed out the economy,” he remarked.
He made these remarks yesterday during a press conference at the party chairperson’s Gulshan office in Dhaka, where a report on corruption in the power and energy sectors during the past governments was unveiled.
“The corruption in the power sector was unprecedented. We urge journalists to highlight these issues comprehensively,” Mirza Fakhrul said.
Allegations of Corruption
The report, presented by BNP Standing Committee Member and former State Minister for Power and Energy Iqbal Hasan Mahmud, highlighted “financial plundering and money laundering” in the power and energy sectors over the last 15 years under the Awami League administration. Mahmud demanded that all contracts in these sectors under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government be made public.
Mahmud accused the Awami League of turning the power sector into a profit-making venture. He cited specific cases of mismanagement and waste, including questionable capacity charges for inefficient power plants. “They’ve extracted nearly Tk 1 lakh crore in 15 years under the guise of capacity charges, often for non-functional or low-efficiency machines,” he claimed.
The report detailed expenditures in the power sector totaling $2,830 billion over 15 years, equivalent to Tk 3.34 lakh crore at current exchange rates. Key companies allegedly benefiting from inflated capacity charges included Summit (?10,630 crore), Agro International (?7,932 crore), and United Group (?6,575 crore).
Criticism of Quick Rental Power Plants
Quick rental power plants, intended as a temporary solution to power crises, were singled out for extending beyond their intended two-year lifespan, with some operating for over 15 years. “These plants were designed for quick profits with little accountability. Over nine years, capacity charges alone amounted to ?11,015 crore for power imported from India,” Mahmud alleged.
Broader Mismanagement in the Sector
The BNP accused the government of further inefficiencies, citing excessive spending on smart pre-paid meters and other infrastructure. “Pre-paid meters, priced at ?6,200 each, were purchased at inflated costs, leading to excess spending of ?1,720 per unit,” Mahmud said. He also highlighted alleged corruption in the Ruppur nuclear project, claiming $500 billion had been embezzled, and referenced ongoing investigations involving international entities.
Call for Transparency
Mirza Fakhrul assured that, if brought to power, the BNP would review all major projects in the power and energy sectors. He reiterated that public contracts must be transparent and accountable.
“The Awami League’s exploitation has left the economy hollow. It is time to bring the truth to light,” Fakhrul concluded, urging collective action to address systemic corruption in critical national sectors.
