A Supreme Court lawyer has filed a petition in the High Court seeking a directive to review or cancel the power agreement with India's Adani Group.
Barrister M. Abdul Qayyum submitted the petition in the public interest, challenging the legality of the power contract between the Government of Bangladesh and Adani (Jharkhand) Limited, which came into effect on November 5, 2017.
Earlier, on November 6, the lawyer sent a legal notice to the PDB chairman and the Energy Secretary, asking them to review or cancel the unilateral agreement with Adani Group within three days.
In the petition, Abdul Qayyum argued that, according to many expert opinions, Bangladesh would pay significantly higher prices for power under this agreement, as it involves lower-grade coal compared to other coal-based power plants.
He further stated that a hearing on the petition might take place in the High Court next week.
Coal will be supplied from an Adani-owned mine in Australia to an Adani port in India. That coal will then be sent to the Godda power plant, constructed at Bangladesh's expense.
Referring to an Al Jazeera report, the petition notes that BPDB has essentially entered into a power purchase agreement where Adani will import coal from Australia to India, with Bangladesh bearing the entire cost.
In the petition, the Supreme Court lawyer said it is unimaginable that PDB could have made such a one-sided agreement without officials' involvement.
