Rampal Power Plant at Risk : 9 Indian officials leave Bangladesh sans prior notice

Reza Mahmud :

Nine Indian officials employed at the Rampal Thermal Power Plant in Bagerhat have left Bangladesh without informing the authorities, raising serious concerns among the plant management.

The officials were working for the Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company Limited (BIFPCL), which operates the Rampal power plant.

Experts expressed anxiety over the matter saying such moves of foreign workers in this type of very important installations are alarming.

When contacted, eminent energy expert BD Rahmatullah on Saturday told The New Nation, “The government should take stern action against those Indian officials who breach their rules of service.”

The expert said, Rampal Thermal Power Plant is very significant entity of the country. The Indian officials, recruited by the fascist Hasina regime obviously went against the national interest.

Experts said the government has to scrutinise all documents and activities handled by those Indian officials.

The very important files and documents must have to be protected from such disbelieving foreigners from such others important installations, experts said.

According to Deputy General Manager (Public Relations) Anwarul Azim, the issue came to light when the officials were absent from the dining hall in the morning. “Upon making inquiries, we learned that they had left for India without prior permission,” he said.

He added that the matter has been reported to higher authorities and is being investigated with due importance.

Sources said the officials exited Bangladesh through the Bhomra land port. The project director, Ramanath Pujari, was later informed and subsequently contacted the officials. They reportedly cited “security concerns” as the reason for their departure.

However, plant authorities described the explanation as unclear, noting that the power plant area is protected by a strict four-tier security system involving the army, police, and Ansar personnel.

They also stated that the officials had never formally raised any security-related complaints or expressed concerns before leaving the country.