ACC to launch audit into Adani power deal

 
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is set to carry out a full audit of the power import deal with India's Adani Group, alongside its ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in the contract.

A new three-member committee has been formed to examine both the audit and the inquiry.

The team is led by ACC Deputy Director Al Amin, with Deputy Director Muhammad Zainul Abedin and Assistant Director Mahmudul Hasan as members.The national anti-graft agency's spokesperson Md Akhtarul Islam confirmed the formation of the committee to bdnews24.com.

During the tenure of the now-ousted Awami League government, Adani Group reportedly benefited from duty and tax exemptions, resulting in alleged revenue losses amounting to Tk 45 billion.
An earlier ACC team had already been investigating the claims.

An ACC senior official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the committee would conduct a detailed review of the deal while continuing the existing inquiry.

"The new committee will review the structure of the agreement, its financial feasibility, potential losses, and any irregularities," the official said. "All three members have institutional qualifications and experience in public procurement."

The committee will also verify whether there were any conflicts of interest or procedural violations in the contract, the official added.
Under ACC rules, the team has been given 45 days to complete the review. If the contract is found to be illegal or unreasonable, the committee will be authorised to recommend its cancellation.

Earlier, the ACC began investigating allegations that the Adani Group bypassed the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to secure duty and tax waivers worth about Tk 45 billion.

Before the ACC probe, the NBR had "found evidence" of customs duty evasion worth around $400 million in electricity imports from Adani.
The tax authority said it discovered that exemptions had been granted without NBR's involvement, despite it being the statutory agency responsible for such approvals.

An investigation by the NBR's Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) found no record of any bill of entry being submitted during the import and transmission of electricity within Bangladesh.The CID also reported that the matter was never legally resolved.

Following these findings, the NBR committee recommended that the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) recover the evaded amount from Adani Power.

The eight-strong NBR team had initiated its inquiry to determine whether customs procedures were properly followed, whether any lapses or flaws occurred, and whether any exemptions or withdrawals were granted outside legal provisions.

Its report concluded that, up to July in FY2025, a total of $390.7 million in duties and taxes had been "evaded" on electricity imported from Adani's Jharkhand-based power plant.

Bangladesh began importing power from Adani's 1,600MW Godda power plant on Mar 9, 2023.

Investigators found that since imports began, neither customs duties nor related taxes had been paid.
The NBR report also revealed that BPDB granted exemptions under the 25-year agreement without obtaining approval from NBR or other relevant authorities.

Following the ouster of the Awami League government amid widespread protests, criticism over several power sector deals intensified.
The interim government later formed a national committee to review contracts signed under the Quick Enhancement of Electricity and Energy Supply (Special Provisions) Act, 2010.

On Oct 3, 2024, the committee said it was examining 11 power supply agreements with multiple companies, including Adani Power's 1,600MW Godda plant in India.