Not because of the need of the state, but because of the demand of the Summit, the power plants were built
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Photo: Barta24.com
The Power Development Board (PDB) and even the Power Division's plans were changed under the pressure of the Summit Group. Not considering the interests of the country, the power plants were built only at the request of Muhammad Aziz Khan, who is close to Sheikh Hasina. Evidence of which remains in the records of the Power Development Board.
As the state has suffered financial losses in these incidents, unplanned power plants have become a thorn in the neck of the Power Development Board.
According to PDB sources, the Cabinet Committee on Public Procurement approved Shantahar 52 MW and Syedpur 100 MW power plants on June 1, 2011. The Summit group was given a series of demands after it failed to build two oil-based power plants on time. In the end, due to lack of progress, the PDB decided to forfeit the 12 lakh dollars security deposit of the Summit as per the law. Accordingly, notice of forfeiture of security was also given by PDB.
It was said that after the letter, Summit's security will be forfeited. But everything changed with the threats of the influential Aziz Khan. PDB was forced to withdraw the notice on the orders of the then Minister of State for Power Enamul Haque. On the contrary, instead of Santahar and Syedpur, it recommended setting up plants in Madanganj of Naryanganj and Barishal as per the demand of the Summit which was in direct conflict with the master plan of the Power Development Board.
The main objective of the construction initiative of the two power plants in the northern region was to eliminate evening load shedding in the northern region. At that time (year 2012) electricity was supplied to Ashuganj and Sylhet regions. Long transmission lines made it difficult to control the voltage as well as system losses. Due to this, burning of transformers, destruction of electrical equipment was a daily occurrence. Two power plants were included in the master plan to ensure uninterrupted and quality electricity. All plans went awry only in the ultra-profit mindedness of the Summit. The then director of IPP Cell-3 Zakir Hossain was forced to approve the transfer. The helpless PDB was then forced to play the role of a silent spectator.
Aziz Khan, a well-known power sector Don, resorted to that fraud to loot the money for the cost of fuel transportation for two oil-based power plants. In order to supply oil to Syedpur power plant, it is supposed to supply fuel from Chattogram to Baghabari by sea, from there by rail or road. The cost of which was included in their contract. In the name of reducing the transportation cost, the two plants were moved to Barishal and Meghnaghat. However, despite the decision to shift, PDB sources have confirmed that the transport costs for the Summit have been allocated as before. PDB signed an agreement with Summit Power Limited and Consortium of Summit Industrial and Mercantile Corporation for the power plants for a period of 15 years. Not only those two power plants, the newly devolved Sheikh Hasina government handed over 3 large power plants to Bibiana-1, 2 and 3 Summit despite not being eligible. The Meghnaghat 350 MW Combined Cycle Power Plant was also given in the near future. Despite failing to finance the Bibiana, the Awami League government extended the time step by step in an irregular manner. “As the Bibiana-1 power plant is an IPP (Independent Power Plant), there was no responsibility of the government to finance it. Failure to start work on time will result in cancellation of contract and forfeiture of Summit's 30 lakh dollar security deposit. But the Power Division did not dare to take any action against the Summit.
Not only had the transfer of the power plant, the summit group also held hostage the state organization BPC for that power plant in Madanganj.
According to the law, Bangladesh Petroleum Commission (BPC) has sole jurisdiction to import all types of fuel oil. Aziz Khan got permission to import fuel oil by threatening that BPC too. In July 2013, the Summit Group was allowed to import 1 lakh tonnes of furnace oil per year, completely illegally. At that time, BPC raised objections in the inter-ministerial meeting but they ignored it.
The then Prime Minister's adviser on Power, Energy and Mineral resources Towfiq-e-Ilahi Chowdhury and Minister for State for Power Enamul Haque, Energy and Mineral resources gave direction from the front to stop BPC. Rumor has it that the State Minister had publicly threatened the BPC Chairman in an inter-ministerial meeting. Later BPC was forced to give permission to Summit Group to import furnace oil.
At that time, there was a reign of terror, many people in this sector did not dare to say it openly, but Aziz Khan was saying it behind his back. They used to say that state laws and customs are just old pieces of paper in Chanachur container. Laws, policies, master plans were not a consideration. Electricity is exactly what the Summit Group wanted. Summit is given tax exemption for importing 1 lakh tonnes of oil per year. Not only that, on the contrary, the government paid 9 percent service charge to Summit Power.
When the Summit Group was allowed to import oil, many energy experts raised objections. Their opinion was that by over invoicing so much, there will be an opportunity to launder money, it happened. BPC and Customs received information on over-invoicing of oil imports in several rounds of Summit. However, after the pressure of the summit, everything disappeared. It has been seen that the company laundered money by showing imports at one and a half times the price at which BPC bought furnace oil at the same time.
A few years ago they were small trader but now in Singapore Aziz Khan has got a place in the list of top businessmen in places like Summit Group Chairman Muhammad Aziz Khan has made it to the list of billionaires of 2024 published by Forbes. His name is at number 2545 in the list, with a net worth of 1.1 billion and energy as an income sector. According to Forbes, Aziz Khan is currently a permanent resident of Singapore. He was previously ranked as the 41st richest person in Singapore.
Shaukat Aziz Russell, president of Bangladesh Textile Mills Association, said in a recent seminar that the situation seems complicated and dire. The local company of the country became a Singaporean company overnight, earlier I used to pay money in the country, now I am delivering dollars to Singapore. This is why there is a shortage of dollars today. We have been played with.
There are many controversies about Summit Group opening companies outside the country and taking money. Many times there are allegations of money laundering through over invoices and under invoices against Summit Group. Along with electricity, the energy sector has also been taken hostage by the businessman. They have one FSRU in Maheshkhali, another FSRU is being provided in Mangla. There are various interesting discussions in the market about floating LNG terminals.
Summit Group owns 18 power plants. Among them, the data of 7 power plants shows that against those 7 power plants with a capacity of 1323 megawatts, they have to pay a capacity charge of more than Tk. 125 crore 56 lakh per month. From July-21 to March-22 (9 months) the capacity charge of 7 power plants has been given Tk. 1161 crore 39 lakh.
It is said that some companies like Summit Group, Confidence Group, United Group, Orion Group have acted as puppets of the Power Division. In order to meet their demands, even if they are not required, the period of rental, quick rental power plant has been extended. Even after the expiry of the period, the rental power plant has been made IPP and capacity charge has been given.
