ACC opens probe into recruitment, tender ‘irregularities’ at Rampal Power Station

Allegations include illegal sale of equipment and wage disparity among staff

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched an investigation into alleged irregularities in the recruitment of outsourced staff and tender procedures at the Rampal Power Station in Bagerhat, along with allegations of embezzlement through the illegal sale of plant equipment.

ACC Director General Md Akhtar Hossain confirmed the development on Monday, saying the decision to open the probe followed preliminary findings by the enforcement team that supported the claims.

A senior ACC official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the commission had approved the probe on Aug 28.

Referring to the enforcement team’s report, the official said a staff pattern review found that 524 employees are working at the Rampal office of the plant (Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant) and its Dhaka office.

Among them, 30 officers were reportedly recruited by the Indian firm NTPC at Rampal office and 6 officers at Dhaka office, totalling 36 officers.

He noted that standard operating procedures require 20 local staff for every foreign official, a ratio that has not been maintained.

The deviation has been justified by citing “capacity issues”, though he argued that competent local officials are available on deputation from Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB).

Earlier, on Jun 27, the ACC’s enforcement team conducted a field visit to the Rampal plant to verify complaints involving equipment theft, wage disparity between Indian and Bangladeshi staff, and other alleged anomalies.

The operation was led by ACC Assistant Director Md Saidur Rahman from the agency’s Bagerhat district office.

At the time, he said the team had found preliminary evidence of “irregularities”, including wage discrimination between local and Indian staff, duty waiver misuse, and inconsistencies in coal procurement.

He added that relevant documents had been collected and would be sent to the ACC headquarters for further action.

The Rampal Power Station is a joint venture between India and Bangladesh. The project was initiated in 2010, with a Power Purchase Agreement signed between BPDB and the Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company Ltd (BIFPCL) in 2013.

Land acquisition, site filling, and road infrastructure began the same year.

The plant’s first unit began commercial production on Dec 23, 2022.