The Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) is calling for the formation of an independent commission to investigate alleged corruption and irregularities in the power and energy sector under the previous Awami League government. CAB claims that Tk 35,000 crore worth of corruption occurred in 2022 alone, including Tk 17,000 crore in the Rural Electrification Board (REB) and Tk 8,000 crore in furnace oil purchases by private power producers. The organization’s demands include returning energy price-setting authority to the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC), freezing energy price hikes for the next three years, forming a search committee for BERC appointments, and removing top officials from the Ministry of Power and Energy from state-owned company boards. CAB also calls for a white paper on corruption and the disclosure of names of those involved. Additionally, CAB criticized the current preparation of a position paper by officials they accuse of previous corruption and suggested reviewing agreements with private power producers, such as the Indian Adani Group, to determine if they should be canceled or revised.
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